Getafe vs Athletic Bilbao preview - Pedro Leon set for Athletic clash

Getafe coach Cosmin Contra has announced that midfielder Pedro Leon will be in the squad to face Athletic Club and could make his first appearance of the season.

The former Real Madrid man was finally registered by the Spanish Football League (LFP) on Monday following a three-month legal battle with the league's organising body, who had forbidden him for playing for Getafe as his wage meant the club would exceed pre-agreed budget limits.

The player won an appeal against the league last week and has now been given the all-clear to turn out for his club for the first time in over six months, although his coach stopped short of stating whether he would play against Athletic.

"I'm sure that Pedro Leon will be in the squad, then we'll decide during the game whether or not he will come on," he said.

"He has gone fourth months without competing and it's not easy to get back into the team after so much time without playing. We're going to be cautious with him, little by little he'll return to playing matches. But I think he is doing fine. He is going to contribute what he has, which is quality, a good shots and goals."

The return of Leon has come at the right time for Contra, whose side have not managed to win any of their last three home games.

But Getafe are facing an Athletic side who have turned a corner following their worst ever start to a season - the Basques are now unbeaten in their last five league games and on Tuesday won away to Shakhtar Donetsk to earn their first victory in the Champions League.

"We have to start winning now and we need to ensure the three points stay at home, against a Champions League team who this week won in a very difficult stadium," said the Romanian.

Athletic will be without defender Xabier Etxeita after he injured his adductor muscle in the win in the Ukraine and are still missing Guillermo Fernandez due to a hamstring problem, but striker Aritz Aduriz is expected to return to the starting line-up after beginning the Skahtar game on the bench.

Getafe are still without Juan Valera and Alvaro Vazquez due to injury, but welcome back captain Alexis Ruano following a three-game suspension.