LALIGA
Lamine Yamal eyeing return for Celtic clash
The Barça forward still feels some discomfort in his right ankle but continues to work around the clock so that he can be given the medical all clear within the next nine days.
Lamine Yamal’s fitness is currently the focus of all attention at ‘Can Barça’. His two absences in LaLiga (Osasuna and Real Sociedad) ended with two defeats for the Blaugranas, so his recovery has practically become a matter of state, with the match against Celta in Vigo, in nine days, on the horizon.
The teenage forward took a knock to his right ankle in the 2-5 Champions League win over Red Star Belgrade on 6 November - the second time he has been laid low this season.
Yamal could start on the bench in Vigo
Fortunately, AS USA can confirm that his rehabilitation is going well, to the point that his right ankle no longer hurts when he uses a protective bandage. Without the bandage, he continues to notice some slight discomfort, especially around the fibula. It will not be until next week, when he is tested in training, when a real prognosis can be made about his chances of returning for the next game - against Celta at Balaídos on Saturday.
As things stand right now, the roadmap would be to give him the all-clear next week so that he can travel to Vigo, but start the game on the bench, with the possibility of coming on to play the last 20 to 25 minutes.
Other injured players are in better shape than Yamal to return against Celta. Robert Lewandowski, Eric Garcia and Hector Fort will all be fully fit and available for Flick. The Pole, who has problems with his lower back, is expected to return to training midweek, while Eric is already in the final stages of his right adductor injury, as is Fort, who has discomfort to the base of his spine.
Ferran Torres will still have to wait a few days, as he is still recovering from a tear to his right hamstring, which he suffered five weeks ago in the game against Alavés. Everything indicates that he will be available for either the Champions League game against Brest or the following one, againsrt Las Palmas in LaLiga, thus completing the month and a half of absence that was predicted.
We will still have to wait a little longer to see the rest of the injured players: Ronald Araújo and Ansu Fati are expected to return next, both in December, while Andreas Christensen will not return until January. Both Ter Stegen and Marc Bernal remain out and will not return until next season.