Arsenal’s Karl Hein shook off an injury scare to return to the Estonia squad for their second game of the international break, but they opted for caution by leaving him on the bench.
SEVILLE, SPAIN: Karl Hein of Real Valladolid CF warms up prior to the LaLiga match between Sevilla FC and Real Valladolid CF at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on September 24, 2024. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images
Karl Hein had far from the ideal start to the international break, suffering an injury that forced him off at half-time of Estonia’s 2-1 defeat to Israel.
The injury scare would have sparked concern at the Arsenal man’s loan club Real Valladolid, but the good news is that he was back in the squad for the match against Moldova on Tuesday night.
Real Valladolid's Karl Hein catches the ball during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Real Valladolid FC at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona on August 31, 2024. (Photo by MANAURE QUINTERO/AFP via Getty Images)
Photo by MANAURE QUINTERO/AFP via Getty Images
Estonia evidently didn’t want to risk the 22-year-old’s fitness, so he remained on the bench for the contest. It was the first competitive fixture he hadn’t started for his country since June 2022.
But the fact he didn’t pull out of the break and return to Real Valladolid is a positive sign.
Valladolid have been struggling badly this season. Hein has put in a lot of good performances, but the team face near-certain relegation. They’re in 20th place, nine points off 19th and 11 points off 17th.
MADRID, SPAIN: Karl Hein of Real Valladolid is challenged by Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and Real Valladolid CF at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on August 25, 2024. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images
Losing Hein would have effectively turned a highly-improbable relegation escape into an impossibility. But the goalkeeper will hopefully be fit for Saturday’s match against Real Sociedad at 13:00 GMT.
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