Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has confirmed that Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal is fit and available for Sunday’s UEFA Nations League encounter against England.
Football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported on Friday that De la Fuente confirmed the teenager would join the national team squad after recovering from a minor knee problem.
“He’s available and he’s joining us today,” the Spanish coach said, adding that Yamal was feeling well and eager to rejoin his teammates.
The 18-year-old missed Spain’s 2-0 victory over Czechia in Prague on Thursday after experiencing discomfort and inflammation in his right knee following Barcelona’s recent La Liga win over Atletico Madrid.
Medical examinations reportedly detected fluid in the joint, prompting Spain’s medical team to keep him in Barcelona for treatment rather than risk aggravating the injury.
De la Fuente explained that the problem was not serious and that Yamal could have featured against Czechia if necessary. However, the decision was taken to prioritise his fitness ahead of the England fixture.
Yamal is expected to train with the Spanish squad before Sunday’s encounter at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid.
Real Sociedad forward Mikel Oyarzabal, who also missed the Czechia match, is expected to rejoin the squad around the same time.
Spain head into the fixture as group leaders, maintaining a perfect record and an impressive unbeaten run.
Both Spain and England have already secured qualification for the Nations League quarter-finals, making Sunday’s meeting crucial in determining the group winners.
Yamal’s return is expected to provide a major boost for De la Fuente’s side as they prepare for the highly anticipated clash.
