Spain boss Luis de la Fuente has been speaking about Lamine Yamal's injury ahead of next week's World Cup opener. La Roja have now dusted off their final friendly fixture after defeating Peru 3-1 on Monday evening local time.
Mikel Oyarzabal, Pedri and Pedro Gallese were all on target to help Spain go into their group stage opener with Cape Verde on the back of a win. As expected, De la Fuente made 11 changes during the game to make sure all of his players got a run out, with only third choice keeper Joan Garcia left without playing time from the fit players
Yamal is getting closer
Three players who were not available for selection for the Peru friendly were Barca's Yamal, Osasuna's Victor Munoz and Athletic Club's Nico Williams, who are both nursing injuries. But there is some good news on both players as they look to make it back for Monday's group stage game.
"Nico, Lamine and Victor are completing the steps of their recuperation. They are very well. It was useful to have a few days to keep working and to do more specific work.
"I think the three can be there and available for the next game. It's great news. If there are no setbacks in t he next few days, we think they will be able to be counted on come the 15th."
He added: "I think it will be tricky for them (to start). But the three will be available to play. In terms of the minutes, we don't know."
Good news for Yamal and Barca
It's good news all round that Yamal will be close to returning, and indeed that De la Fuente will clearly take a careful approach to playing the youngster. The nature of this World Cup, with all of the travel and time zone changes means managers are going to have to use more of their squad through the competition.
With no disrespect to Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia, Spain do not need to exhaust their best players for those games, with Uruguay the only real competition during the group phase.
De la Fuente will likely start strong teams for all of the group stage games, but he would be wise to keep some of his recovering players, which includes Rodri, nice and fresh for the knockout stages, with La Roja all-but certain to get there without too much of a sweat.
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