Lozano out 3 weeks, likely to miss World Cup qualifiers in March

A severe gash didn't prove to be as serious as it looked, but it's unlikely Hirving Lozano pulls on Mexico's green shirt in March.

After Lozano exited Club Pachuca's 3-2 victory at Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente on a stretcher, Los Tuzos' medical services said Saturday that the Mexican winger will need three weeks to recover and, for that reason, should be rested for Mexico's next two 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

Lozano, whose nickname is Chucky, suffered a horrific ankle injury in the 13th minute of the Liga MX game, when his right leg was caught by Michael Orozco.

Related: Pachuca's Hirving Lozano carted off after horrific injury at Xolos

"I don't want to rule out the player as of now, but we'll see how he's evolving day to day," Fernando Marquez, Pachuca's doctor, told ESPN. "It would be convenient and what we're going to propose is, above all, Hirving's health and subsequently the call-ups."

Marquez also detailed Lozano's ailment, saying: "The ankle is stable and we'll see there's no other injury due to the movement of the mechanism which suffered during the action. Technically the entire joint is stable and we believe it was nothing more than an extensive and deep cut, and the worst thing would be if the scan showed some injury to the ligaments."

Mexico is scheduled to play Costa Rica on March 24 before visiting Trinidad and Tobago on March 28. Both qualifiers are part of The Hex, the fifth round of 2018 World Cup qualifying in which six national teams are competing for four-and-a-half berths. El Tri is second in the standings after defeating the United States men's national team and drawing Panama in November. Lozano played as a substitute in both matches.

On Saturday, Lozano expressed his gratitude for the words and support he received after picking up the injury.