Valencia CF hopes to have the return of Luis Rioja for this Saturday's match against Athletic Club at the Mestalla. The Sevillian winger, who has been out of action for several games due to a complicated injury in the calcaneus and plantar fat area, trained on Wednesday with the rest of the group at the Paterna Sports City. Although he could not complete the session, the club considers that his presence could be one of the surprises in the call-up of Mexican coach Javier Aguirre, who will celebrate his first match at the Mestalla.
Rioja has suffered an injury that has prevented him from training and performing regularly, but his recent participation in training indicates that he is making progress in his recovery. Valencia's technical management has indicated that his availability for Saturday would be positive news for the team, which seeks to reinforce its attack before facing Athletic. In addition to Rioja, the coaching staff has included Hugo Duro and José Copete in the training session.
The Madrid striker, who recovered from an overload that caused him discomfort in the last game on Sunday at El Sardinero, trained normally with his teammates. Duro, who limped off after the draw against Racing, took advantage of the squad's day off on Tuesday to receive physiotherapy treatment in Paterna and, on Wednesday, he returned to training without problems, which makes him available for the Basque duel. Copete, who has been out for several months due to a meniscus injury in his left knee, also worked out without problems and his return to competition is getting closer and closer.
For his part, Nigerian striker Umar Sadiq is still in the recovery process, although he has already returned to working on the pitch, which is considered a good sign. Valencia CF, which is in a middle position in the table, seeks to consolidate its squad before the decisive matches of the season. With the possible incorporation of Rioja, the starting lineup could be reinforced up front, which would increase the chances of obtaining a victory against Athletic.
The match will be played at the Mestalla on Saturday, and Valencia CF will have the opportunity to show their progress after injuries that have affected several key players. The technical direction will continue to evaluate the physical condition of the players before confirming the final call. With the expectation that Rioja will be available, Valencia seeks to take advantage of the opportunity to improve its position in the table and advance in the competition.