Athletic Club Faces Injury Challenges Ahead of Competitive Return

On Wednesday, Athletic Club trained at Lezama and will continue to do so on Thursday before taking a three-day break. However, the training session was marked by the absence of Sancet, who remains out of action due to a muscular injury reported on November 4. The navarrese player sustained a mild to moderate strain in the biceps femoris of his left leg during the derby at Anoeta, a recurring issue that also affected him a month prior.

Sancet is currently receiving care within the facilities and is following a cautious recovery process. The nature of his muscular injury requires time to heal, especially since it involves the same area that hindered him before a Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund. Coach Valverde is unwilling to take risks with a player who has already been burdened this season by a knee sprain incurred during a friendly against Liverpool. In Sancet’s absence, various players have filled the role, with Selton taking the position in the last match against Oviedo.

Sancet still requires additional personalized training before he can fully return to group sessions. Meanwhile, Iñaki Williams is confirmed to be unavailable for the upcoming match against Barcelona and is likely to miss all three matches scheduled in the first week of competitive play. Williams is sidelined due to “a severe injury to the long adductor muscle of his right leg with tendon involvement.” In the worst-case scenario, the forward may not be fit to return until after the Christmas break.