Atletico Madrid’s Ademola Lookman and Alexander Sorloth have picked up injuries, but the pair appear to be in line to make their comebacks against Arsenal next week.
Marca reported on Monday that Ademola Lookman and Alexander Sorloth have both picked up injuries, and that they’re set to miss Atletico Madrid’s next two fixtures against Elche and Athletic Club.
The news obviously raised concerns that the Atletico forwards wouldn’t be fit for the team’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Arsenal on April 29th, and Marca reported that they were both “major doubts”.
Lookman is expected to be out for a week at minimum, but it could be longer, whilst Sorloth is currently aiming to be back for the Champions League game.
Mundo Deportivo report that the pair are being wrapped in cotton wool to be available for the Arsenal match, with Atletico confirming that they’ll train away from the rest of the senior squad.
“Ademola Lookman and Alexander Sorloth finished the Copa del Rey final with discomfort,” Atletico confirmed.
“The club’s medical services have carried out tests that advise the utmost caution to avoid the risk of injury, so they will follow an individualised plan in the coming days, working outside the group.”
“The evolution of these (injury) concerns will determine their return to training with their teammates.”
Lookman has scored 10 goals and assisted six in all competitions this season, though he spent the first half of the campaign with Atalanta in Serie A. With Atletico, he has seven goals and four assists in 18 matches.
As for Sorloth, he’s only been second to Julian Alvarez as Atletico’s primary goal threat, scoring 17 goals to Alvarez’s 19. He scored in the quarter-final first leg against Barcelona after coming off the bench.
Arsenal’s hopes of a first-leg result would be significantly boosted by the two absences, but it seems both are currently in line to make their returns in time.