Winger has struggled with a niggling groin injury so far this season and surgery is a possibility if things do not improve
Athletic Club are facing a major injury blow in their Champions League campaign due to uncertainty over the fitness of Nico Williams.
The winger is struggling with a groin problem and is a serious doubt for Wednesday’s meeting with Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
Williams has been dealing with pubalgia, an inflammation in the groin area, since early September. He briefly returned to action last week but has struggled for fitness, training separately from the main squad in recent days.
Williams is undergoing light training to avoid aggravating the injury, but medical staff would have to decide whether he can feature on Wednesday. The chances are slim given that manager Ernesto Valverde admitted playing the winger in last weekend’s Basque derby against Real Sociedad, where he featured briefly in the second half, may have been a mistake.
Valverde said it was “a bit of a stretch” because the player has been “carrying some discomfort”. Athletic Club lost the match 3-2.
Athletic sit 21st in the Champions League table, with three points out of a possible nine. Failing to get a result in England this week could see them drop out of the play-off spots, with other difficult fixtures against Paris Saint-Germain, Atalanta and Sporting CP still to come.
Williams has struggled for minutes so far this season due to the niggling groin injury, managing just one goal and two assists in eight appearances across all competitions.
Pubalgia is said to be difficult for players to recover from due to the constant strain of sprinting, twisting and kicking involved in elite football.
Surgery remains a possibility if the situation does not improve, but it is a last resort given the lengthy recovery time it would require.
