Nico Williams Faces Uncertain Recovery Amid Ongoing Injury Challenges

omidbasir- Nico Williams is currently at a pivotal moment in his career, as an ongoing injury has forced him to take a break from competition without a definitive return date. The athlete did not travel to Oviedo due to persistent pubalgia, a condition that has plagued him since last season and has intensified despite initial recovery efforts made over the summer. His brother, Iñaki, noted after the match at Tartiere, “I was beginning to see the light, but now it seems like he has taken two or three steps backward.” Athletic Club’s coach, Valverde, expressed concerns, saying, “We cannot continue like this.”

The international player is not in a condition to compete at the desired level consistently. This season, he has participated in 26 matches (18 as a starter) and has missed significant playing time. He has been absent from the last few national team calls, and with Athletic, he has logged 1,728 minutes on the field, which is considerably less than Jauregizar, who leads the team with nearly 1,200 additional minutes. Fortunately, recent medical tests confirmed that he does not have any bone or meniscal damage.

After consulting external specialists and undergoing various treatments, the international player is embarking on a new approach. He has been advised to reduce the intensity of his training sessions to allow for better integration with competitive play, but this has not yielded the desired results. Mikel González, the director of football, outlined in early February the roadmap for Nico’s recovery: “We are exploring different options, and if he does not improve, we will consider pausing for several weeks to focus on an abdominal strengthening treatment.” This regimen commenced on Monday. While the club has not publicly discussed the expected duration of his rest period, it is anticipated to be no less than four weeks. There is no definitive answer yet regarding whether he could return in time for the semifinal of the Copa.

The club faces a significant challenge with Nico’s recovery, as it appears to be progressing slower than anticipated. Moreover, club management has indicated that surgery is not being considered at this time, citing concerns that such an operation could result in a loss of speed and acceleration. They emphasized that surgery does not guarantee a full recovery and could keep the player sidelined for three to six months.