Dani Vivian returns to Athletic training and boosts Terzic's defence

Athletic Club are regaining strength at the back just in time for the most demanding stretch of the autumn. Dani Vivian started working with the rest of the squad at Lezama on Monday, taking a major step towards leaving behind the adductor injury that has kept him out since 16 July. The international break gives him a chance to sharpen his fitness, and head coach Ognjen Terzic now has a top-level centre-back to add to a defensive unit that has already looked solid this season.

Vivian steps up his recovery at Lezama during the break

The Vitoria-born defender has missed every pre-season friendly and every competitive minute so far this campaign. The club's medical report on 16 July confirmed an insertional injury to the long adductor muscle of his right leg, a problem that has dragged on for more than two months. His gradual return to full training essentially turns these two weeks without fixtures into a condensed pre-season, allowing him to regain rhythm, touch and defensive chemistry with his teammates.

If Terzic sees him in the right physical condition, Vivian could feature in the EH Kopa tie against Real Sociedad, scheduled for Friday 2 October. Caution will shape the timeline, though: the injury had deep roots, and the player himself admitted before the Alavés match that he had been carrying discomfort since the previous season and that he probably should have stopped earlier, only pushing on because of the team's situation.

• Vivian trained with the group at Lezama on Monday following his adductor injury.
• He has been sidelined since 16 July with no friendlies or official minutes played.
• A pubalgia problem has troubled him, the same issue that previously affected Nico Williams.
• He was Athletic's third most-used player last season with 3,478 minutes.
• He could return in the EH Kopa against Real Sociedad if Terzic feels he is ready.

A crowded and talented race for two centre-back spots

Vivian's return raises the level of an already reliable back line. Laporte has established himself as an undisputed starter under Terzic and ranks third in the squad for minutes played, behind only Unai Simón and Sancet. The French defender has started five of Athletic's six league matches, only coming off the bench in the opening game against Sevilla due to a shorter pre-season following the World Cup.

Alongside Laporte, Yeray and Paredes have been sharing the other starting spot. The Barakaldo-born centre-back has been in the line-up on four occasions, while the Arrigorriaga native has started three times. With Vivian available again, Terzic will have four dependable central defenders to navigate a month and a half of intense competition, with rotation inevitable and matches coming every three or four days.

Seven matches in the diary before the November break

Athletic face a packed schedule between now and the next international break in November. Seven fixtures crammed into little more than three weeks will test the depth of the squad and, above all, the ability to rotate in defence without losing stability. That is exactly why Vivian's return comes at such a useful moment: the team needs fresh legs and credible alternatives in every position.

The Basque side open this run with three consecutive away trips: Rayo Vallecano on Saturday the 10th, Valencia on Saturday the 17th and Levante on Wednesday the 21st. They then host Getafe at San Mamés on Sunday the 25th and make their Copa del Rey debut on Wednesday the 28th or Thursday the 29th, with the exact date still to be confirmed.

Two derbies to close a demanding sequence

The calendar also serves up two high-voltage derbies to complete this cycle. Athletic will face Real Sociedad at San Mamés and close the run with a visit to Osasuna in Pamplona, with both fixtures yet to be given an official date. These regional clashes always add an extra layer of emotion and competitiveness, and having all four centre-backs available could prove decisive in such tight encounters.

The numbers behind Athletic's defensive reliability

Athletic have shown this season that their defence is a genuine foundation. The numbers back up that solidity: the team has conceded few goals and has managed to compete from a position of security at the back. Laporte's emergence as the leader of the back line, along with the rotation of Yeray and Paredes, has kept standards high during Vivian's absence, which is never easy when a player of his importance goes down.

I had been carrying discomfort since last season. Maybe I should have stopped, but we decided to keep going because of the team's situation.

The pubalgia issue has been Vivian's main battle during this spell, the same problem that previously slowed down Nico Williams. The Gasteiz native finished the 25-26 campaign as Athletic's third most-used player, with 3,478 minutes under his belt, only behind Unai Simón (4,140) and Jauregizar (3,816). That prolonged workload took its toll, and now the priority is managing his comeback carefully to avoid any setbacks.