How Piquerez’s recovery helped Palmeiras speed up Vitor Roque’s return | OneFootball

Vitor Roque is nearing a return, completing the final phase of ankle surgery rehab, and will bolster Palmeiras at full fitness in the second half. According to Globo.com, his recovery exceeded expectations, aided by a model first used with Piquerez.

Both had ankle ligament operations earlier this year. Piquerez, keen to reach his first World Cup, asked for a special plan after he was injured in the last FIFA window in late March, then made Uruguay’s squad but did not play in any of their three games.

Early movement limits kept him at the Academy of Football, where brain stimulation helped restore movement patterns. The programme targets mapping, visual contact, processing speed, working memory and focus, and electrical-wave helmets have been part of the routine since 2022.

Biomechanics and physiotherapy followed, and the same blueprint was applied to Vitor Roque after his early May surgery. He skipped holidays and worked through the World Cup pause, starting ball work and physio in the second week of June, then moved into physical transition from late June to early July.

He has since trained fully without restrictions and last week featured in a training match against União São João. A difference is that he completed the programme with the club’s specialists, unlike Piquerez who transitioned with Uruguay’s staff. Roque is being prepared for early August but could be named to face Coritiba on Wednesday at 19:30 at Couto Pereira in the Brasileiro, while Piquerez trains without restrictions and is expected to start.

Source: Globo.com