Marín expected to feature in derby as Matarazzo regains utility man | OneFootball

Pablo Marín is back to full fitness, handing Pellegrino Matarazzo the return of his utility man after a pre-season hamstring injury. According to Diario Vasco, he has trained with the group for three weeks.

The plan is a phased reintegration, with expectation he will play the Euskal Herria Txapela derby against Athletic at Anoeta on Friday, a tune-up for fixtures from 11 October at home to Deportivo de la Coruña. The friendly could lower risk, yet the derby edge should help him build rhythm.

The midfielder damaged his right hamstring on 14 July, in the first session of week two of pre-season. He then had a milder relapse in his only outing, the last seven minutes of the 15 August friendly against Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea. He has not played an official match since.

Marín is valued by Matarazzo for versatility. Profiled as a classic number 10, he has mostly worked from the left, mixing runs beyond with dropping in to free Guedes and Oyarzabal. Highlights included the 3-1 win over Osasuna, the Cup semi in Bilbao and the last 52 minutes of the La Cartuja final against Atlético Madrid, where he converted the decisive penalty.

Imanol Alguacil gave him a debut on 22 October 2022 against Omonia in the Europa League, and he later took first-team shirt 15 with a renewal to 2029 in January 2026. He has 95 official games and could become the 156th to reach 100 in the coming run.

Source: Diario Vasco

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