Puado 2.0

Espanyol captain Puado returns to full training under new manager Sarabia, who expects him fit within a month after over a year sidelined by injury.

Javi Puado, the 28-year-old Espanyol captain, is making his comeback after a lengthy injury layoff that kept him out for over a year. The midfielder featured in a friendly against Inter Club d'Escaldes, scoring in the first half—his first start in more than 12 months.

New former Espanyol manager Eder Sarabia has publicly backed Puado, calling him "a wonderful footballer" and expressing confidence he can reach full fitness within a month. Sarabia said: "We're going to give him a month to get him to 100%. He's a leader, committed, one of our captains. He's a player who will enjoy himself and make us enjoy ourselves."

Puado has featured in just 35 minutes across three league matches this season. He told Sarabia he prefers playing as a striker or attacking midfielder and could form a strong partnership with Roberto. With the international break providing recovery time, Puado is expected to become a genuine option for Espanyol's upcoming fixtures, starting with the trip to Athletic Bilbao.