Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone says Robin Le Normand is ready to return to action in Thursday’s Copa del Rey fixture two months on from suffering a traumatic brain injury.
The 28-year-old defender has not featured since an accidental collision of heads with Aurelien Tchouameni late in stoppage time during the Madrid derby on September 29. Subsequent tests determined he had suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) with subdural haematoma (when blood collects between the skull and surface of the brain, often caused by a severe head injury).
Simeone says Le Normand is now in contention to feature against Spanish fifth tier side CP Cacereno in Thursday’s second-round Copa del Rey tie.
“First of all, we were thinking about the health of the player,” Simeone said. “That’s what the club, doctors, and physios focused on as a first step.
“Then comes the player, who started to get in shape and is now ready to start competing from tomorrow. Seeing the enthusiasm that he transmits, he is very happy and eager to help the team.”
Le Normand joined Atletico from Real Sociedad this summer for a fee in the region of €34.5million.
He had started eight of Atletico’s nine matches in all competitions this season before the injury.
The centre-back has been capped 19 times at senior international level by Spain and was part of his country’s European Championship winning squad in the summer, featuring in six of Spain’s seven matches at the tournament.
Following Thursday’s Copa del Rey tie, Atletico play Sevilla in La Liga on Sunday.
(Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
