Valverde eyes quick Aduriz return

Athletic Bilbao will be without Aritz Aduriz for Sunday’s trip to Levante, but Ernesto Valverde is optimistic of a speedy recovery from injury for the striker.

Aduriz has been missing since April 14, when he suffered a hamstring problem during Athletic’s penalties defeat to Sevilla in the Europa League quarter-finals, but Valverde claims his side may have their top goalscorer back for the visit of Celta Vigo next weekend.

“We can’t say if he’ll be back next Sunday, but being very optimistic I’d think ‘yes’,” the Coach said at a Press conference.

“If he doesn’t make Celta then he will [be back for] Las Palmas, although I’m no soothsaying doctor!

“[On Sabin Merino’s grade-II thigh injury], he may be back sooner than we think.

“We’re optimistic, but we won’t take any risks. At first, we had to rule him out for the rest of the season, but now it depends on how the next few games go.

“[Oscar de Marcos] is suffering from a pubis problem, so we’ve considered it best that he rests for this match.”

Tags Aritz Aduriz Ernesto Valverde
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