Press conferenceInjury news: Iraola provides update on Gomez, Leoni, Chiesa, Bradley and Ekitike

Gomez is yet to feature this season due to a muscle issue sustained during the summer tour of the USA.

Meanwhile, it is planned for Giovanni Leoni – sidelined for nearly a year after an ACL tear – to be back working with the squad during the upcoming international break, along with Federico Chiesa, who picked up a muscle problem last month.

No timeframes are yet being placed on returns of long-term absentees Conor Bradley and Hugo Ekitike.

Iraola said on Thursday: “The closest one is Joe. Joe will probably start training with us next week and it has gone normally, the recovery, from a muscle injury, more or less we were expecting the time on this. I hope we can have him before the break, let’s say.

“I think the next one probably should be Giovanni Leoni. I think the plan is also to start training during the break, with the group.

“I think even Fede should be around those dates and probably Conor, and especially Hugo, will go later, yes.”

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