Athletic Club Faces Injury Challenges as Williams Brothers Return

Athletic Club expresses gratitude for the impact of the Williams brothers as they both feature in the squad for the upcoming derby. The team continues to be afflicted by injuries, with Sancet being the latest player to be sidelined. The recoveries of other players are not yet conclusive; for instance, Laporte’s return is still uncertain, as the medical staff has advised that it is “too early” for him to play. Additionally, Vivian is unable to participate due to a muscle injury that has left him at the limit.

Many within the Athletic community have been focusing on Nico Williams. After a standout season last year, which included impressive statistics at the Ballon d’Or and a commitment to remain in Bilbao despite interest from major clubs in other leagues, this season, attention has shifted to his ongoing struggle with pubalgia. The player has not yet found his rhythm, and the aim is to enable him to perform consistently. This week, the club will make key decisions on how to address this issue, which may involve him taking additional rest days, although surgery is currently not on the table.

In the medical room, Maroan remains in recovery following knee surgery last November. The club has not been transparent about his rehabilitation timeline, but Valverde has clarified: “We expected it to take about four months, but he has not yet returned to the pitch.”

Amidst this whirlwind, Iñaki Williams is set to make his return to the squad to face Real Sociedad after participating in a training session and a half with the team. The elder of the two brothers has been out of action since January 19 due to a mild to moderate injury in the gastrocnemius of his left leg. It remains to be seen how many minutes Valverde will allocate to him in the upcoming match.