Aston Villa star Emiliano Martínez is expected to be fit for the start of the World Cup despite breaking his finger before the Europa League final.
Marca report that everything indicates the 33-year-old will be ready for Argentina as they look to defend their crown.
Confidence over injury
The newspaper reports that despite Emiliano Martínez suffering a fracture to a finger on his right hand during the warm up before Aston Villa’s clash with Freiburg in the Europa League final, ‘optimism reigns’ in the Albiceleste camp.
According to their information, both the coaching staff and medical team are ‘fully confident’ that the goalkeeper will be 100% fit for the start of the World Cup.
Argentina’s medica staff are closely monitoring the Aston Villa goalkeeper’s progress. Internal reports are encouraging. The fracture is healing properly; the bone is consolidating favourably the current protocol is working. That involves keeping the finger immobilised for a few more days.
Images of the goalkeeper celebrating Aston Villa’s win with a bandaged hand and splinted finger had generated concern among Argentina fans. But the goalkeeper and the national team have quickly reassured everyone about his physical condition.
Aston Villa star ready
Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni is taking no risks, though. He isn’t using him in the pre-World Cup friendlies against Honduras and Iceland.
The World champions are also insistent that the goalkeeper won’t need to use a special four-fingered glove at the tournament.
Instead, the focus is on full recovery. The Aston Villa star is focusing on mobility exercises and footwork for the time being. He will increase the intensity and start to use his hands before the World Cup begins.
Despite the initial scare, everything indicates that Martinez will be fully fit to lead Argentina’s defence of the title they won in Qatar four years ago. With time left until the tournament starts, focus is on ensuring that he’s ready to go.
