Fort’s second chance at Real Sociedad remains on hold

Fort’s second chance at Real Sociedad remains on hold. Héctor Fort did not take part in training on Tuesday, as he continues to feel discomfort in a knee that was already troubling him before last Friday’s match against Athletic de Bilbao. He had been expected to play a significant part, but was ultimately unavailable.

His recovery matters to Pellegrino Matarazzo, who may need him during a run of five games in 15 days. Fort joined Real unexpectedly in the closing hours of the previous summer transfer window, when a signing in that position had not been anticipated. The transfer cost 8.5 million euros for 60% of his rights.

He made his debut in the closing minutes of a match at Elche a month earlier, against the club he had represented the previous season. Ten days later, he made his first start against Bournemouth at Anoeta, but Matarazzo substituted him at half-time after his performance fell short of expectations.

Fort had appeared likely to make his second appearance last Friday against Athletic, with Jon Mikel Aramburu away with his national team. But just before the Euskal Herria Txapela final, Real announced that Fort had a knee problem and would be unable to play. The squad’s number 22 could get another chance to start in the five-match stretch beginning next Sunday, against Deportivo de A Coruña, USG Gilloise, Málaga, Lillestrom and Levante. That will depend on how his injury develops; it has kept him from training on Monday and Tuesday.