Lecce’s work during the international break has been shaped by a familiar need: giving Eusebio Di Francesco more options before the league resumes at the Via del Mare against Bologna. Willem Geubbels is the central figure in those plans, with growing confidence that the French forward can return after the left-ankle sprain suffered against Roma on 31 August.
Geubbels had entered that home match and lasted nine minutes of the second half before being forced off. His absence has been felt by a side still searching for greater continuity in front of goal. Lecce have scored in only two matches so far, although they have found the net five times across those games.
The goals have come from elsewhere rather than from the forward line. Lassana Coulibaly struck twice against Monza, while Gorter opened his Serie A account at Venezia with Lecce’s first league goal of the campaign. Centre-back Tiago Gabriel has also scored twice, against Venezia and Monza. The possible return of Geubbels, signed permanently from Paris FC for €4.6 million in the club’s biggest summer outlay, would give Di Francesco another reference point in attack.
Recovery work continues around the squad
The coaching staff are also managing the situations of Medon Berisha and Omri Gandelman. Albanian midfielder Berisha has been held back by an overload problem after returning from a nine-month injury lay-off. Gandelman, meanwhile, is dealing with tendinopathy in his right knee, though he has still joined up with Israel during the break, where his physical condition is being monitored.
Gandelman is one of nine Lecce players away on international duty across Europe and Africa. The remaining call-ups are Coulibaly, Tiago Gabriel, Fofana, Gaspar, Monteiro, N’Dri, Ngom and Penev.
After the latest session, Lecce scheduled their return to work for tomorrow afternoon in Martignano. Thursday will bring a training match against Altamura in San Pietro in Lama, another step in preparing the group for Bologna and in assessing whether Geubbels can finally rejoin the season’s early contest.
