Fabian Ruiz remains sidelined three months after the knee injury he suffered in PSG's loss to Sporting Portugal on January 20, with his return to Champions League action still on hold. The 30-year-old has now been cleared by the medical department to resume his activities, but he is still feeling pain and will not rush his comeback.
Ruiz had been expected to return earlier, and many fans thought he would be back against Toulouse two weeks ago, only for that comeback to be delayed again. He has played 24 games this season, but he has not been able to return to Champions League competition since the January 20 injury.
His absence has been felt in Paris because Ruiz, Vitinha and Joao Neves were described as PSG's most dominant midfield under Luis Enrique, and the team's performances this season have been shaped in part by the fact that the three have not consistently shared the pitch. Even so, Ruiz's time out has not been as damaging as it might have been, with Warren Zaire-Emery's season helping PSG absorb the loss.
The next step is not a date on a calendar but a body on a field. Ruiz is cleared to work again, yet the pain that still lingers means PSG will keep waiting until the knee is ready, not merely until the schedule says so.