Morten Hjulmand back in contention for Sporting, with major standing | OneFootball

Morten Hjulmand is back in Sporting’s starting XI for the match against Estrela da Amadora, after missing the first leg against Arsenal through suspension and playing only 21 minutes against Santa Clara. The Lions’ captain will therefore wear the armband again and is expected to be a key figure in a demanding stage of the season.

The impact of the Danish midfielder is also reflected in the numbers. Hjulmand is the league player with the most ball recoveries, with 145, which underlines his importance to the team’s balance. Right behind him is Estoril’s João Carvalho, with 144, while, across all positions, only Gil Vicente’s Konan has a better record, with 150 recoveries.

The main question is who will partner the number 42 in midfield. Rui Borges has several options available, giving the coach a welcome selection headache. Hidemasa Morita has been the most regular partner in recent matches, but Daniel Bragança has strengthened his case after scoring in his last start against Santa Clara.

João Simões, who started against Arsenal, is expected to return to the bench. Meanwhile, Giorgi Kochorashvili is further down the Sporting coach’s pecking order, especially as he only recently returned from injury and has not played competitively for around two months.

Sporting take to the pitch next Saturday, 11 April, against Estrela da Amadora. The match, valid for the 29th round of the Liga Portugal Betclic, against the team managed by João Nuno, will be played at 8:30 pm at the Estádio José Gomes.

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