Loum returns to Sporting after 303 days out

Sporting Gijón welcomed the return of Mamadou Loum, the Senegalese midfielder, after a long recovery totaling 303 days. As reported by Sport, his comeback came at Heliodoro Rodríguez López against Tenerife, where he was introduced in the 59th minute and played for over half an hour in a demanding match.

A setback that stopped him

The injury dates back to October 29, 2025, when Loum suffered a rupture of his left Achilles tendon during the warm-up for a Copa del Rey match between Caudal and Sporting in Mieres. Sport notes that, given how serious it was, no one initially set a timetable or promised an ideal return.

Back into competition

According to Sport, the return has been driven by disciplined rehab work—double sessions, long hours with the medical staff, and a gradual step-by-step return. After first getting back into a squad, his next milestone was his minutes in official competition against Tenerife.

There’s also a personal touch: during the celebration of the Tenerife win, Sport highlights that Loum appeared in a video and said an enthusiastic “babayu”, matching the cheerful, spontaneous personality he brings to the group. For manager Larcamón, it’s not only a physical and leadership boost, but also a player who already fits into the dressing room.

Sporting, meanwhile, had already marked the transfer window as closed after the arrival of Antonio Casas, though Sport says Loum still has “distance to cover.” Larcamón also continues managing injuries—Gaspar Campos, Manu Rodríguez, and Hugo Guillamón are still unavailable—while Andrés Ferrari is expected to join the group in about two more weeks.