Real Sociedad head coach Imanol has this evening provided an insight into the wellbeing of key attacker Ander Barrenetxea.
As much, of course, comes amid the ongoing fitness troubles being endured by the 22-year-old.
Barrenetxea, for his part, has featured in just one of Real Sociedad’s last four outings across all competitions.
After being afforded the medical green light to feature in the club’s Champions League showdown with Paris Saint-Germain last week after a two-game absence, the wide-man was then absent once more this past weekend, as La Real put Granada to the sword.
With Barrenetxea having since not rejoined group training alongside the rest of Sociedad’s squad, either, it therefore came as little surprise when the subject of his fitness was put to the aforementioned Imanol on Thursday.
And the Spanish tactician, in quotes gathered by Mundo Deportivo, went on to reveal that his sidelined attacker is dealing with ‘lumbago’, with his comeback date, as a result, up in the air:
“it is lumbago, acute, strong. The same thing has happened to Merquelanz. It is harder for some people than others to return. It is harder for Ander. He has not been able to go out on the field this week. There’s nothing else. Tests and MRIs have been done. It’s lower back pain and we don’t know when he’s going to come back.”
On a more positive note for fans of La Real, Imanol also went on to confirm that all of Takefusa Kubo, Arsen Zakharyan and Aritz Elustondo will be available to feature against Cádiz on Friday.
Conor Laird | GSFN
