Hercules Will Not Risk Nico

Nico Espinosa is eager to play against Recreativo de Huelva, but his participation remains uncertain. The Hercules youth player suffered a muscle micro-tear against Fuenlabrada, and both the player and the coaching staff were relieved by the medical report from the MRI: "It's a minor issue, we are calm and hopeful to have him back against Recre," stated Ruben Torrecilla last week.

However, Nico's history of muscle injuries and his explosiveness necessitate caution, especially since a relapse in the form of a more serious muscle tear would mean several weeks out, something to be avoided at all costs as the Alicante native is currently Hercules' main offensive weapon, playing on the left wing with his opposite foot. The fact that the match against Recreativo is on Saturday rather than Sunday doesn't help, but the coaching staff insists that Nico is not ruled out and will be tested during the week. It seems highly unlikely that he will start, as, at best, he would be available to impact the game in the final minutes if necessary.

Torrecilla refers to Nico as "the standard-bearer of Hercules" and is clear that he is untouchable in the attack. "He always keeps his marker on edge and contributes a lot to us. It won't be long before he's in professional football," predicts the Extremaduran coach.

Apart from the doubt surrounding the Alicante winger, the blue-and-white coach is also closely monitoring left-back Retu. The Madrid native didn't play in Seville due to patellar tendon discomfort, which is not considered serious. Joel Arumi debuted as a starter in Seville, struggled on his wing, and is on standby for the starting eleven if Retu doesn't make it in time. Defender Abraham del Moral seems ruled out, according to Torrecilla's own words, as his knee wound, sustained in Marbella where he received ten stitches, has reopened.

The best news is the return of Roger Colomina to the engine room, and it remains to be seen how the coach will reshape the midfield against Recreativo, the only team yet to win away and with worse away records than Hercules. In the previous match at Rico Perez against Fuenlabrada, Colomina partnered with Alicante's Mangada, and Torrecilla might repeat this formula, without ruling out Artiles. Meanwhile, Mario Garcia is likely to be on the bench as he is still far from the level shown in the first half of the season, and his fit as a positional pivot at Rico Perez is complicated.