Luis de la Fuente Optimistic Lamine Yamal Will Be Fit for Spain’s Clash Against England

Posted : 12 November 2026

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente remains optimistic that Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal will be available for Sunday's Nations League encounter against England in Madrid, despite concerns over a knee injury.

The 19-year-old has been ruled out of Spain's trip to Prague to face the Czech Republic on Thursday after experiencing discomfort in his knee. However, he is expected to join the national squad following that fixture as he continues his recovery.

Yamal featured in Barcelona's 2-1 LaLiga victory over Atletico Madrid on Sunday, but subsequent medical examinations revealed inflammation and fluid in his knee. Spain's medical team recommended rest rather than risking his fitness by travelling with the squad.

De la Fuente explained that the decision was made in consultation with Barcelona's medical staff, highlighting the importance of protecting the young winger's health. He also confirmed that he had spoken with Yamal and received encouraging updates about his rehabilitation.

According to the Spain manager, the Barcelona youngster has been following an individual recovery programme with his physiotherapist and club staff. The progress so far has increased confidence that he could rejoin the national team on Friday.

Despite Yamal's importance to Spain, De la Fuente insisted that the winger does not receive preferential treatment within the squad. He stressed that every player is treated equally and that the same decision would have been made for any teammate facing a similar medical situation.

Spain head into their remaining Nations League fixtures in impressive form. They have won all four of their Group A3 matches and already secured qualification for the quarter-finals. De la Fuente's team have also extended their unbeaten run in competitive matches to 43 games.

The Spanish coach admitted that the remarkable record has become an additional source of motivation, with his players eager to continue setting new milestones. Having already surpassed expectations, the team are now targeting a 44th consecutive competitive match without defeat.

Spain's previous victory came against Croatia, where Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino scored twice to secure the result. Merino has frequently made an impact from the bench under De la Fuente, delivering important goals in major international encounters.

The midfielder acknowledged that he would prefer to receive more playing time and become a regular starter. Nevertheless, he insisted that he respects the manager's decisions and has no intention of creating problems over his role in the team.

Merino maintained that every footballer wants to contribute, enjoy regular minutes and feel important to the squad, but he remains committed to respecting the coach's selection decisions.

Spain will now focus on their upcoming meeting with England, with Yamal's potential return expected to be one of the major talking points ahead of Sunday's contest.

Luis de la Fuente Optimistic Lamine Yamal Will Be Fit for Spain’s Clash Against England

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