Our players returned to the training pitch this afternoon after completing a recovery programme on Friday that included gym work, pool sessions, ice baths and massage therapy.
New signing Juraj Badelj also completed his first on-pitch training session with his new teammates. The Croatian defender is now at the head coach’s disposal and is expected to make his unofficial debut tomorrow in Aris’ second friendly match in Austria, against Union Berlin.
Paje will miss tomorrow’s match after sustaining an ancle injury in the friendly against Al Sadd. However, an MRI scan carried out yesterday showed that, fortunately, the injury is not serious, and he is expected to be sidelined for approximately two weeks. Gaustad and Loukoubar will also be unavailable due to ankle problems.
Tomorrow’s friendly is expected to provide Aris with its toughest test of the pre-season, with Union Berlin competing in the German Bundesliga. Aris head coach Artem Radkov will have another opportunity to draw valuable conclusions from the match, once again giving playing time to all of his available players.
Kick-off is scheduled for 15:30 local time (16:30 Cyprus time). For both Aris and Union Berlin, the match will be among their final friendlies ahead of the start of their respective league campaigns, with both championships scheduled to begin over the weekend of 28–30 August.
