Inglewood, 02 July (H.S.): Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente said on Wednesday that teenage star Lamine Yamal has fully recovered from injury and is ready to play the full 90 minutes if required in the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The 18-year-old Barcelona winger featured for only 141 minutes during the group stage after returning from a hamstring injury, scoring one goal in three matches. Spain's coaching staff had carefully managed his workload to ensure a complete recovery.

Speaking to reporters ahead of Spain's Round of 32 clash against Austria, De la Fuente confirmed that Yamal is now fully fit.

Lamine is ready to play for as long as we need him. We were cautious with his recovery, but he is now completely fit. Most importantly, he is eager to get back on the pitch, the Spain coach said.

With a smile, De la Fuente added, We'll see whether he plays tomorrow or not.

Yamal enjoyed an outstanding season for Barcelona, scoring 24 goals and providing 17 assists across all competitions. However, he missed the final six La Liga matches after sustaining a hamstring injury in April.

At the World Cup, he made his tournament debut as a substitute against Cape Verde before scoring in his first start against Saudi Arabia. He then played 76 minutes in Spain's final group-stage match against Uruguay.

Spain Receive More Positive Injury Updates

Spain have also received encouraging fitness news regarding other members of the squad.

Winger Yeremy Pino has recovered from a shoulder injury and is available for selection against Austria.

Liverpool-linked winger Víctor Muñoz has also recovered from a muscle injury, although the coaching staff will make a final decision on his involvement based on match conditions after his extended absence.

Meanwhile, Nico Williams will not feature against Austria, but his groin injury has improved significantly. He is expected to be available if Spain progress to the next round.

Spain advanced to the knockout stage after an impressive group-stage campaign, keeping three consecutive clean sheets without conceding a goal. They will face Austria in the Round of 32 on Thursday.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar