He gives everything a professional can offer, and then some. Yet the pain persists, carrying with it a real danger of a break. Omar Mascarell is doing all he can to be at Francisco’s side as soon as possible, but this week the Achilles tendon discomfort has resurfaced and the player remains far from match readiness for next Monday against Rayo Vallecano.
The Canary Islands-born midfielder stands as a cornerstone of Elche’s defense and organization, commanding the spine of the team through the previous season. For more than a month he has fought to perform at his best in games, oscillating between moments of improvement and spells of struggle. Some days he looks like himself again, others he battles to cope with the load, with targeted work designed to reduce strain. On certain days he trains with the group, on others he is kept separate. He longingly wants to contribute on the pitch, yet physical limits keep him from doing so.
The latest line of action saw Mascarell lining up against Barcelona, though precaution prevailed and he did not participate fully, with nobody certain about the exact issue. The decision could leave him sidelined for three weeks, even as the league recess allows for a potential reprieve due to international duty commitments in the coming window.
In principle, the recovery appeared sufficient. The same player told reporters gathered at the Díez Iborra football field last week that he was ready to face Rayo in practice, yet injuries of this nature can evolve unpredictably. Some days bring solid improvement; other days the pain returns, interrupting progress and testing resilience.
The situation weighs heavily on the team and the club. Not only because Mascarell’s presence holds critical strategic value, but also because Elche CF has been left without a medical director since the previous holder went on leave in mid-August. As reported earlier, the ownership has struggled to appoint a new chief medical officer, leaving players to monitor injuries without a dedicated club doctor on site.
Meanwhile, there is positive news on Fidel Chaves. He returned to grass and trained yesterday at the Díez Iborra field alongside the club’s development players and partner Pedro Bigas. The defender appears to be progressing well and is on track for Vallecas, while the Huelva midfielder with a hamstring micro-tear is confirmed safe for this game but remains doubtful for the subsequent match against Real Mallorca, scheduled for Monday at 9 p.m. local time.