Espanyol vs Deportivo La Coruna preview - Osvaldo: I'm ready for action

Posted Sunday, March 13, 2011 by PA

Espanyol striker Dani Osvaldo insists he alone cannot be the solution to the club's recent woes.

Osvaldo has been sidelined since January but is ready to make his comeback after recovering from an operation.

In his absence, the Barcelona-based side have lost six of their last seven Primera Division matches and much is therefore expected of Osvaldo, who began the season brilliantly and netted seven league goals in 14 appearances before his injury.

"I feel good and I'm ready to play two games in a week, but I'm not the team's saviour," the striker said.

At the time of Osvaldo's injury, Espanyol were just three points off the Champions League positions, but Mauricio Pochettino's men are now 10 adrift of fourth-placed Villarreal.

Nevertheless, the striker believes they can qualify for Europe's premier club competition.

"I want to play in the Champions League with Espanyol and I hope that after 38 games we are in a position to be able to do so," he said.

There are currently 11 rounds of the championship remaining, with Espanyol set to host Deportivo La Coruna in the first of those games.

As well as Osvaldo, Javi Marquez, Raul Baena, Juan Forlin and Ivan Alonso are all available again after injury.

Ivan De La Pena, Sergio Garcia and Victor Alvarez remain sidelined, though, while Jordi Amat is suspended.

Depor have injury problems of their own, with Manuel Pablo, Riki, Xisco, Ze Castro, Laure and Juan Carlos Valeron all set to miss the game against Espanyol.

"Espanyol have been having really bad luck lately," defender Aythami Artiles said.

"But we are focused on ourselves, on winning the game and ending our bad streak away from home."

Depor have not won on the road since a 2-1 victory at Athletic Bilbao in early January.