Rui Borges could spring big surprise for Sporting's Champions return | OneFootball

is getting closer and closer to playing minutes again for Sporting’s first team. After overcoming a long recovery from a fracture to the fifth metatarsal in his right foot, the 19-year-old midfielder has been building up his rhythm in Alcochete and is now targeting a full return.

The player returned to competition on September 14, for the B team, against Lusitânia de Lourosa, and has been using the international break to work closely with Rui Borges. The absence of several international players reduced the available squad and allowed the 'number 8' to gain ground with the coaching staff.

The trip to Braga, scheduled for October 9, could already open the door for João Simões, but Rui Borges’ main idea is above all to get him back for the demands of the Champions League. Four days after the visit to Pedreira, Sporting face Lens in France.

The closeness of the two fixtures should force Rui Borges to rotate the squad somewhat, a scenario that could directly benefit the young midfielder. João Simões is not part of Portugal’s national team selections during this break and will return to competition with several training sessions under his belt in Alcochete.

The Champions League, moreover, is not an unfamiliar stage for the player developed at Sporting. Last season, João Simões played 10 matches in Europe’s top competition, nine of them as a starter, for a total of 654 minutes. It was precisely in the Champions League that he played his last official match before the long spell out. The midfielder featured in the second leg of the quarter-finals against Arsenal at the Emirates and came close to scoring in stoppage time, with a left-footed shot that went just wide.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.