Yeray back at Lezama, eligible from 2 April | OneFootball

Yeray Álvarez has resumed training with Athletic at Lezama after eight months out, FIFA having permitted his return to group work. The centre-back is serving a 10-month doping suspension that has kept Ernesto Valverde without him in a position hit by setbacks.

According to as.com, the defender trained alone and with CD Derio under Iker Muniain until he was advised to stop for regulatory reasons. He has returned to professional sessions and will not be available to play until 2 April, with at least nine Liga fixtures remaining.

Yeray came out escorted by Iñaki Williams and Vesga, and team-mates had already greeted his return on social media, with Sancet, Nico Williams and Yuri posting supportive messages. On Monday morning he joined the rondos as preparations continued for Wednesday’s Copa tie at Valencia in Mestalla.

Laporte is working with the group, but Vivian remains out with an adductor overload. Paredes is suspended for the Copa, while the starters against la Real limited their work to recovery.

Athletic have also formalised the LaLiga registration of centre-back Unai Egiluz with the number 13, who is in the final phase of his recovery from a serious right-knee injury suffered in pre-season. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament on 30 July in a friendly against Racing de Santander in Muriedas and underwent surgery on 6 August. Since mid-December he has worked outside the facilities and, nearly six months on, he has yet to rejoin full training under Valverde.

Source: as.com