Saúl return estimated at three to four months after heel surgery | OneFootball

Flamengo are close to having a full group for Filipe Luís, but midfielder Saúl remains out as he recovers from left heel surgery and hopes to be available again soon.

According to Globo.com, his return is estimated at between three and four months. He will reach 60 days post-op on nine March, when he is due another assessment.

He is in stage two of a five-stage process and has not yet been on the grass. Work is focused on physiotherapy, addressing pre-existing muscular issues and building strength. He has been responding well to treatment, with hopes of an uncomplicated recovery.

The next phase is field work, first with physios, then with fitness coaches, before a gradual reintegration with the squad. After the two-month check, the expectation is for a partial return to the pitch. He can only begin to load the heel after consolidation, so movements remain limited until then.

He began recovery with crutches and a protective boot, both now discarded, and is moving normally. The Spaniard hopes to beat the initial timeline. He has been at Flamengo matches at the Maracanã to support team-mates, in warm-ups and in the dressing room.

The operation was performed in Madrid by Dutch doctor Niek van Dijk. He consulted trusted doctors before deciding on surgery, started his rehab in Spain and later returned to Rio de Janeiro.

Source: Globo.com