Marco Silva ‘could be without’ Fredrik Aursnes for Benfica v Hearts | OneFootball

Marco Silva could be without Fredrik Aursnes for Benfica’s Europa League third qualifying round first leg against Hearts on Thursday at Estádio da Luz.

Record reports that the Norway midfielder is recovering from a muscle overload and remains a doubt, with the medical staff set to assess him daily before any call-up is decided.

The 30-year-old missed the decisive match with St Gallen for the same reason. If he does not recover in time, his official debut under Marco Silva will be delayed again.

Aursnes returned to work at Seixal later than team-mates after representing Norway at the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The Nordic side reached the quarter-finals, going out to England 2-1 after extra time.

He featured in all six of Norway’s matches, starting three and logging 302 minutes, a workload that contributed to his fatigue on returning to Benfica.

Since arriving from Feyenoord in summer 2022, he has become one of Benfica’s most important players, valued for his versatility and consistency. Last season he made 49 appearances, scoring four and supplying eight assists. Marco Silva still regards him as fundamental, but must wait for the player’s full recovery.

Source: Glorioso 1904