Sofyan Amrabat takes step towards return after ankle surgery

Morocco midfielder Sofyan Amrabat has taken a significant step towards his return from injury after partially rejoining training with Real Betis as he continues his recovery from ankle surgery.

The 27-year-old took part in part of Tuesday’s group training session at the club’s facilities under head coach Manuel Pellegrini, marking progress in his rehabilitation programme after several weeks on the sidelines.

Amrabat, currently on loan from Turkish side Fenerbahçe, recently returned to Seville following a period of recovery away from the squad.

The Moroccan international is now working through a gradual programme designed to rebuild his fitness before making a full return to competitive action.

The midfielder has been out since the end of November after suffering an ankle injury during a match in the UEFA Europa League.

The problem occurred following an accidental collision with teammate Isco Alarcón during Betis’ fixture against Dutch club FC Utrecht.

The injury proved serious enough to require surgery, which was carried out at the end of January. Since then, the player has been undergoing rehabilitation in a bid to regain match fitness and rejoin the squad.

His return to partial group training has been welcomed by Betis’ coaching staff as a positive sign, although the club is expected to manage his recovery carefully.

A return to matchday squads is not yet imminent as the midfielder continues to build strength and mobility in his ankle.

Betis are currently preparing for a European trip later this week, with the Andalusian side set to travel to Athens to face Panathinaikos in the first leg of their Europa League round-of-16 tie on Thursday.

While Amrabat is unlikely to feature in that fixture, his presence back on the training pitch offers encouragement that he could soon become one of the long-term absentees nearing a return for the Verdiblancos.

The club will continue to monitor his progress over the coming weeks as they balance their domestic and European commitments, hoping the Moroccan midfielder can soon rejoin the squad in full training and return to action before the end of the season.