Javi Puado returns to train with Espanyol after 234 days

Javi Puado is one step closer to returning to action. As RCD Espanyol reports, Javi Puado (28) trained again with the rest of his teammates this Wednesday, after 234 days since he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee at the Ciutat de València.

First minutes with the group

The club said in its social media update that he had “first minutes with the group”. It’s a meaningful milestone, but there’s still a need for caution. Mundo Deportivo recalls that coach Manolo González had already set expectations ahead of the opening league match vs Levante (3-0 for Espanyol): “we hope that after the break he will be fit to come on with the team.”

September/October window matters

The calendar also lines up. This season, FIFA has merged the traditional September and October international windows into a single one, running from September 21 to October 6. That’s when, according to Mundo Deportivo, Puado should be closer than ever to making his comeback and adding even more to Espanyol’s attacking options.

Meanwhile, the club is also monitoring Kike García, who remains further away from returning. Mundo Deportivo notes he underwent successful surgery in early August after suffering an injury to the right leg’s femoral biceps tendon during a friendly against his former club, the Boro. His recovery timeline is roughly around four months.

For Espanyol fans, Puado’s return is a major boost. The next task is to keep the comeback progressive and see whether the late-September/early-October stretch brings the next step.