SD Huesca started the week with their attention firmly on Jorge Pulido. The captain did not train with the rest of the squad on Thursday, and his physical condition is causing serious concern for a team facing a must-win match for survival against Real Sociedad’s B team. The center-back is still carrying a heavy hip knock he picked up in the Aragonese derby against Zaragoza, following a challenge with Kodro. That injury already kept him out of last weekend’s fixture at El Sardinero.
The defensive situation for the Aragonese side is critical. As of now, coach Oltra only has Piña available as a specialist center-back for Monday’s clash. Carrillo is suspended due to yellow card accumulation, Joaquín remains sidelined with no return date, and Pulido is still being carefully managed. The Valencia-born coach is working against the clock to find solutions and has been testing alternatives in recent sessions, including Ro Abajas in the heart of the defense.
Oltra has also turned to the reserve team to bolster defensive numbers. Almeida, a Barcelona academy product and Ecuador international who has been impressing this season, has gained prominence in training. However, all eyes at Huesca remain on Pulido. The captain is determined to be available “no matter what” for a match that could decide the club’s slim hopes of staying up. Although he missed the first session of the week, he still has three training days left to try and be ready for the game, which is marked in red on the team’s calendar.