Patxi Punal keen to be back

Patxi Punal is back from suspension for Osasuna this weekend and eager to lend a hand in fighting away at Athletic Bilbao.

Los Rojillos picked up a first win of the season last weekend and travel to their Basque neighbours keen to follow that up.

Despite Marcelo Bielsa’s side struggling, Punal does not see an easy task for a second three points for Osasuna.

“It’s a difficult and tough game. Athletic are not at their best at the moment, but they are playing with many people in attack with the ball,” he reflected to reporters this week.

“We will see if we can do things correctly, we will press them, try to create chances and take the game to them.”

It’s a game between two sides currently at the wrong end of the table.

“The game will be curious, because Athletic come into it with several defeats and whilst we seem to have started our season, we only have four points right now. I was surprised to see Athletic in trouble, with their record so far this season.

“It began with the anger at the work on rebuilding the training ground, then with Javi Martinez and Fernando Llorente’s situations, then with the former jumping the fence, now with the anger again. All these things do not help.”

Punal is back in contention after serving a four-game suspension for his sending off against Barcelona in Week 2.

“It’s a four match ban, which has meant a month and a week of rest more than the others and until I play again it is six weeks in total.

“I have not been injured for this month and a half. Yes, it has been a long time. Initially I took it calmly, but around the halfway point, I was going crazy wanting to play again.

“It was hard, especially when you see that things are not well and you want to lend a hand.”

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