Vargas Returns to Training as Sevilla Prepare for Copa Clash
Swiss winger Rubén Vargas has begun light training after three weeks out, but Sevilla face Alavés in Copa del Rey without several key players including AFCON-bound Nigerians.
The sight of Rubén Vargas jogging on the grass has given Sevilla fans a much-needed boost ahead of Wednesday’s Copa del Rey showdown with Alavés.
Vargas on the mend
The Swiss international has been missing in action for three weeks after picking up a knock against Espanyol, but his return to individual training represents a significant step in his recovery journey. While he was limited to continuous running exercises and is still some way off from competitive action, it’s a positive development for Matías Almeyda’s squad.
Mixed injury news
The Argentine gaffer received further good news with several players rejoining group training:
- Juanlu Sánchez
- Ramón Martínez
- Gabriel Suazo
- Adnan Januzaj
However, it’s not all sunshine and roses at the José Ramón Cisneros Palacios training complex:
- Kike Salas remains limited to gym work, making his participation in the cup tie highly unlikely
- Orjan Nyland, Tanguy Nianzou, César Azpilicueta and Marcao continue their respective rehabilitation programs
Nigerian duo off to AFCON
Compounding Almeyda’s selection headache is the departure of Chidera Ejuke and Akor Adams, who’ve already jetted off to link up with the Nigerian national team ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Super Eagles kick off their campaign against Tanzania on December 23rd, followed by matches against Tunisia (December 27th) and Uganda (December 30th). This means both players will miss not only the Copa del Rey fixture but also Sevilla’s upcoming league visit to Real Madrid at minimum.
Should Nigeria progress deeper in the tournament, the pair could miss up to three additional La Liga matches – a proper spanner in the works for Sevilla’s plans.
Next up
Almeyda will face the press at 12:30 today before the squad travels to Vitoria this afternoon. The Copa del Rey round of 32 clash kicks off at 21:00 on Wednesday at Mendizorroza.