There is renewed optimism for Spanish star winger Nico Williams regarding his potential inclusion in the World Cup squad this summer, following a recent injury diagnosis. The Basque forward has been plagued by injuries throughout the season, and concerns intensified when he was forced to limp off during Athletic Club’s 1-0 defeat to Valencia at San Mames on Sunday.
Williams, 23, has spent a significant portion of the season dealing with a sports hernia, which has noticeably affected his performance. In Athletic’s penultimate match, he showed signs of returning to his best form, scoring twice in a 4-2 victory over Alaves. However, on Sunday, Williams had to leave the field after just thirty minutes, expressing his dismay, “it can’t be.”
World Cup Aspirations Still Alive for Nico Williams
Following tests conducted on Monday, reports from Diario AS suggest that Williams still has a chance to make the World Cup squad. His club season with Athletic has concluded, meaning he will be unable to assist them in their pursuit of European qualification. Nevertheless, in theory, he should be fit in time for Spain’s preparatory matches against Iraq and Peru in early June. Williams is suffering from a ‘moderate’ hamstring injury and is expected to be sidelined for three weeks, a timeframe considered short enough to keep him in Luis de la Fuente’s plans.
Potential Replacements on Standby
The same report also indicates that several alternative players have been named in Luis de la Fuente’s preliminary 55-man longlist for the World Cup. These include Osasuna’s Victor Munoz, Rayo Vallecano’s Jorge de Frutos, and Villarreal’s playmaker Alberto Moleiro. All three are capable of playing on the left flank. Munoz notably impressed during his recent call-up to the Spanish national team, scoring on his debut. De Frutos has featured in two squads this season, while Moleiro is already familiar to La Roja from his appearances with the under-21s.