Villarreal players report for medicals, and four B-teamers are named to train with the first squad

Villarreal players are reporting back from their holidays, except for Rodri, Jonathan dos Santos and Semedo, who report slightly later (I guess Antonio Rukavina’s matches for Serbia didn’t get him any extra time off!).

Word is coach Escribá wants to include several of last year’s B-teamers in the squad, including Ander Cantero, who would figure to be included as a third goalkeeper for Europa League away matches; Pau Torres, the 20 year-old center back who made his first-team debut with a late cameo against Toledo in the Copa del Rey; Ramon Guerra, a 20 year-old Uruguayan midfielder who has played for Villarreal B the last two seasons, as well as Leo Suarez.

My guess would be Ander and Pau remain with the B team mostly, but get called up to the first team now and then; Guerra and Suarez are likely to get loaned out to a Segunda team unless Escribá is impressed enough, and feels they will get enough playing time, to promote them to the first team.

Not in the coach’s plans are Pablo Iñiguez, Cristian Espinosa and Akram Afif, but Villarreal is continuing to work on loan opportunities for Espinosa at least. Pablo was a regular for the B team in 2015-16, was loaned to Rayo last year but hardly played; Akram, who looked pretty decent in our preseason, was loaned to Sporting Gijon and didn’t impress in limited action.