Palmeiras share video of Piquerez recovery as he targets World Cup debut | OneFootball

According to Globo.com, Palmeiras have released a social media video detailing left-back Piquerez’s rehabilitation, keeping alive his dream of representing Uruguay at the World Cup. The defender struggled with physical issues in the first half of the year.

He sustained a right ankle ligament injury during the late March FIFA window in a friendly against England. After the severity was confirmed, he had surgery. He then spent almost two months in intensive work at the club’s Academia de Futebol and Núcleo de Saúde e Performance, and once he was back training with the ball on grass he was cleared to rejoin Uruguay.

Coordinator Daniel Gonçalves said a taskforce, involving doctors, physiotherapy and biomechanics, supported the player through a tight timeline to report to the national team. He added that neuroscience methods were used to stimulate the brain in ways that could transfer focus and movement back into match situations.

Piquerez is with the national team but has not featured in Uruguay’s first two matches. Bielsa selected Matias Viña, the former Flamengo full-back, for the opener against Saudi Arabia, then Sanabria started on Sunday against Cape Verde. Both games finished level.

Like the club’s other call-ups, he received a gift from Palmeiras. He missed the previous edition, despite already playing for the club, and is aiming to make his World Cup debut. His next chance comes on Friday at nine pm against Spain, with a place in the knockouts at stake.

Source: Globo.com