Leverkusen duo making steady progress in recovery

Bayer Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand has provided an injury update on Ezequiel Fernandez and Exequiel Palacios.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Argentine midfield duo, Ezequiel ‘Equi’ Fernández and Exequiel Palacios, are both making steady progress in their recoveries from injury.

Fernández, sidelined with a ligament injury since October, could even make his comeback before Christmas.

“Normally, he’ll return for the first game of the new year. But there is a chance that ‘Equi’ could be involved in the last game in December. Everything would have to go perfectly for that,” Bayer Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand said at a press conference ahead of Tuesday’s DFB-Pokal clash with Borussia Dortmund.

Palacios, out with an adductor injury since September, is expected to return next month.

“If everything goes well with Pala, he can play in January, maybe late January,” Hjulmand said.

In addition to the two Argentine midfielders, Leverkusen will be without Arthur and Lucas Vázquez for Tuesday’s game against Dortmund.

Arthur could return to the squad for this weekend’s Bundesliga clash against Augsburg, while Hjulmand said there is a “possibility” that Vázquez could be back before the turn of the year.