United News of Bangladesh

Athletic Bilbao suffered a major blow on the eve of their long-awaited Champions League return, as midfielder Benat Prados has been ruled out for the season with a serious knee injury. The Basque club confirmed Monday evening that the 24-year-old tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during training last week. “In the coming days we will decide the date for surgery,” Athletic said in a statement. A product of Athletic’s famed youth system, Prados made 45 appearances last season and 33 the year before, following his loan spell at second-tier Mirandes. Though considered the third-choice midfielder under coach Ernesto Valverde—behind Mikel Jauregizar and the injury-prone veteran Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta—Prados was expected to feature prominently this season, with the club competing in the Champions League, La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup. Valverde is now likely to rely on experienced midfielder Mikel Vesga and B-team prospect Alejandro Rego to fill the gap left by Prados.