There was mixed news on the injury front for Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick as he chose his starting line-up for Saturday’s LaLiga match against Celta Vigo. Although Robert Lewandowki has recovered of a fitness problem in time to start, fellow striker Lamine Yamalperhaps the most impressive player on the team this seasonis not part of the competition selection.

“It is unlikely that Yamal will be fit on Saturday”, a source in the Barça dressing room had told AS earlier this week. The 17-year-old is still in some pain afterward where he injured his right ankle in the Champions League win over Crvena Zvezda on November 6, resulting in his absence this weekend.

Yamal had already been there forced to sit out the defeat to Real Sociedad before the international break, as well Spanish victories in the UEFA Nations League against Denmark and Switzerland. In a statement on November 11, Barcelona indicated yes expected the winger to be out for “two to three weeks”. although there were hopes earlier this week that he could return to face Celta a little earlier than expected.

Lamine Yamal injury update: When will he play for Barcelona again?

Of Yamal’s absence from the starting lineup confirmed, attention now turns to the Champions League home match against Brest on Tuesday (November 26)or maybe even the LaLiga match against Las Palmas in Montjuïc next Saturday (November 30). If Yamal plays in either of these two matches, his return from injury will have taken place within three weeks.

Ultimately it is the teenager himself who decides when he is fit to play. Although he still feels somewhat uncomfortable, the source revealed that he does virtually pain free when his foot is bandaged. However, the injury is a delicate injury no risks are taken to rush him back too quickly.

Barcelona’s poor record without Lamine Yamal

Yamal’s continued absence is likely to worry Flick and Barça. The attacker has So far this season they have only managed to start two of the Catalans’ LaLiga matches, both of which they lost (4-2 for Osasuna and 1-0 for Real Sociedad).

Defender Eric García was expected to be fit to play, but in the end he was not included in the squad.

However, there is also good news for Flick. Both top scorer Robert Lewandowski and Héctor Fort have fully recovered of their injuries, with the Pole starting in attack and the young defender being named on the bench.

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