Aguirre gets Tárrega and Diakhaby back for his Valencia debut at El Sardinero

Valencia got back to work on Tuesday after two days off and immediately turned their focus to Javier Aguirre's debut this Sunday against Racing de Santander at El Sardinero. The biggest boost from the session was the return of César Tárrega and Mouctar Diakhaby, two defensive pieces who look ready to help Los Che chase only their second win of the season.

• Tárrega and Diakhaby train normally and are available for Aguirre.
• José Copete makes progress and already joins part of the group session.
• Aliou Dieng returns after international duty with Mali.
• Guido Rodríguez rejoins the squad on Thursday after attending Messi's tribute in Argentina.
• Danjuma and Rioja miss group training due to physical issues.

Tárrega and Diakhaby ready to strengthen the back line at El Sardinero

Valencia's defense received a timely lift ahead of Aguirre's first match. César Tárrega and Mouctar Diakhaby trained at the same intensity as the rest of the squad and have put their muscle problems behind them. The hometown center-back had been dealing with a right hamstring issue, while the French-Guinean was sidelined with an injury to the long adductor in his left leg.

Both completed the session without discomfort and look like genuine options for a demanding away trip to El Sardinero, where Valencia need to stop leaking points on the road. Their return gives the new coach more depth at center-back as he tries to lift a side stuck near the bottom of the table.

Copete steps up his comeback seven months after knee surgery

José Copete continues to move forward in his recovery. The defender once again completed part of the training session with the group and keeps making positive progress seven months after suffering a meniscus injury in his left knee. The problem has kept him out longer than initially expected, but his current trajectory suggests a return is getting closer.

Joining part of the collective work, even if still limited, marks an important step for a player who will compete for minutes in the heart of the defense. Aguirre can now ease him back based on how he feels over the coming weeks.

Who is in and who is out in Aguirre's first week

Tuesday's session also featured the return of Aliou Dieng, who rejoined Valencia after fulfilling his commitments with Mali's national team. The midfielder arrives with competitive rhythm and could go straight into the new manager's plans for the match in Santander.

Stole Dimitrievski and Guido Rodríguez, however, have yet to rejoin the squad. The Argentine midfielder has been given permission by the club to travel to his home country for the tribute to Leo Messi and is expected back on Thursday. Ryunosuke Sato, meanwhile, had already cut short his time with Japan's national team on his own initiative to start working under Aguirre as soon as possible, a sign of how urgently the squad is approaching this stretch of the season.

Danjuma and Rioja headline the negative notes from training

Not everything was good news at the training ground. Arnaut Danjuma and Luis Rioja did not work with the rest of the squad. The Dutch forward trained separately because of some discomfort, while the winger continues to deal with the foot problem that has bothered him for several matchdays.

Sadiq Umar, Dimitri Foulquier, Diego López and Sergi Canós also continued their individual recovery programs away from the group. Aguirre will have to manage those absences and monitor the minutes of players returning from international duty as he puts together his first Valencia lineup.

What is at stake for Valencia in Aguirre's first match

The trip to Racing de Santander is looming as a crucial moment for a Valencia side that has won just once this season. The change on the bench comes with an urgent need to take all three points and climb away from the danger zone. El Sardinero, with its tight atmosphere and a Racing team desperate for points, will not be an easy stage for the Mexican's debut.

The return of Tárrega and Diakhaby gives some breathing room to a defense hit hard by injuries since the start of the campaign. If Aguirre can make the team more solid and his attacking players rediscover their scoring touch, Valencia could pick up a second league win and begin building some momentum under their new manager.

Frequently asked questions about Aguirre's debut and Valencia's injuries