Moroccan international Abde Ezzalzouli will miss Tuesday's Champions League clash against Lille, with Real Betis head coach Manuel Pellegrini leaving the winger out of his squad for the European opener.
Ezzalzouli was also absent from Betis' most recent league match against Real Madrid after falling ill, and while Pellegrini had hoped the Moroccan would be available at the beginning of this week, the coaching staff have opted to give him additional time to recover fully.
Pellegrini Gives Ezzalzouli More Time
Pellegrini previously expressed his hope that Ezzalzouli would be ready to return this week.
However, the decision to leave him out against Lille is designed to allow the Moroccan attacker to regain his complete physical condition, with his return now expected toward the end of the week.
The cautious approach gives Ezzalzouli the opportunity to recover properly before returning to competitive action.
A Season Interrupted by Injury
Ezzalzouli's start to the season has already been affected by fitness issues.
The Moroccan previously suffered an injury that prevented him from representing the national team at the most recent World Cup, before making his first appearance of the Spanish league campaign against Levante, where he featured for several minutes.
He subsequently missed further action after developing a viral infection.
Eyes on a Strong Return
For Ezzalzouli, the immediate priority is now to complete his recovery and return to the pitch at full strength.
The Moroccan winger remains an important attacking option for Betis, and supporters will be hoping to see him back in action later this week as he looks to build momentum after a challenging start to the campaign.
For a player eager to put his recent fitness setbacks behind him, a little more patience could pave the way for a much stronger return.