In a hushed voice, with the wary calm of someone who has spent many days among them, he learned from the physiotherapists as they laid out stretching routines, counting every superstition with a quiet skepticism. The sense of relief when light appeared at the bottom of the cellar was tempered by faint clouds, and it seemed this time the signs aligned. The message was clear: readiness to race again was closer, and medical signs supported the feeling rather than merely the heart’s hope.
The Hércules junior team, the enduring blue-and-white emblem that carries the club’s history, is back with Cesar Morenor leading the charge. After gradually rejoining the usual training cadence, she completed her first full session yesterday with complete effort, free of pain and slips, signaling a near return to full activity.
Manuel Escobar invited participation in the schedule that suits the club’s blue-and-white framework, to be received at noon tomorrow. The focus for the squad remains on a steady home stretch, with Alicante hosting two consecutive league dates following visits to Sagunto and Alzira.
Nico Espinosa: Is the comeback imminent?
The hamstring issue began as a soft wound detected on November 6 in the biceps femoris, affecting the tendon and generating tension. The prognosis has consistently favored a conservative approach, with no precise recovery window publicly declared. Even behind closed doors, speculation has hovered around a timeline that extends beyond four months in the early stages.
Artiles takes the place of Joan Truyols, who will miss the blue-and-white season due to injury. The central defender remains unavailable for the remainder of the campaign.
Despite the medical intricacies, the elite sports medicine service led by doctors Pedro Ripoll and Mariano de Prado elected to pursue a less invasive regenerative method for the affected tissue. The approach yielded positive results, shortening rehabilitation time and proving that the treatment and patient commitment could accelerate recovery.
Artiles expands Escobar’s role
Since Artiles joined the debuting squad this Sunday and completed two training sessions in the new kit, Nico Espinosa’s return may be delayed by up to a week to ensure additional conditioning and minimize relapse risk. The plan is to ramp up gradually while maintaining careful vigilance over the pace of reintroduction to match fitness demands.
Five losses have come in seven appearances for Truyols with Hércules. The team has earned only four points from 18 in the league, also participating in the Copa del Rey qualifier against La Nucía.
José Artiles has taken over the left-back slot that had been vacant in defense. The Catalan defender, who debuted on October 2, has not appeared in league play for about six weeks. His registration has been removed from the league’s roster, and negotiations to finalize his contract, valid through June 30, are ongoing. Currently on medical leave, his status could be altered by a medical decision or contract adjustment as needed.
The former Mérida player faced questions about his role after a split with coaching staff earlier in the season, and his return to the division where he performed strongly last year marks a notable chapter. The move signals a broader realignment within the squad as it navigates key matches and player health.
Non-credit scorers in Hercules
With the team set in a 4-3-3 shape, a midfielder capable of operating effectively from the right could provide a reliable option when called upon. The Canary Island-based player inherits the number 15, which he previously wore. Truyols will not wear Hércules colors again, with the club negotiating a clean exit as he recovers from injury and the roster reshapes around available personnel. Since the holidays, the player has not appeared in the squad for several weeks, and the team has experienced a mix of results through that period. A single goal and a couple of late attempts against La Nucía in cup competition remain as recent highlights in an otherwise challenging stretch.