Fabio Coentrao has lost his race to be fit for Saturday's meeting with Valladolid, meaning José Mourinho will have to field a makeshift left-back for the fixture, considering Marcelo is still recovering from a long-term injury. Michael Essien is back, however, and could be ready to step up to the plate.
Essien has resumed training with the rest of the squad and could be in the frame for a competitive return at the José Zorrilla Stadium. This would be a fillip for Mourinho, as the Ghanaian has performed admirably – considering his inexperience in the position – when deployed as an emergency full-back on previous occasions.
Essien has been sidelined since 11th November, having suffered an allergic reaction to medication, as the Spanish giant has reported. He returned to his parent club, Chelsea, for treatment, and last Sunday joined back up with his Madrid teammates in training, having received the medical all-clear.
The big surprise at the training ground on Friday morning was the fact that the starlet José Rodríguez was nowhere to be seen in the first-team session.
The youngster, who has been a fixture in the squad for the last few weeks and made his Champions League debut against Ajax midweek, won't be travelling to Valladolid. Two of his B-team teammates will be, however: Nacho – who is another option to deputise for Coentrao – and the forward Álvaro Morata.
José Mourinho has named a 20-man squad:
Goalkeeper: Casillas, Adán and Jesús.
Defenders: Varane, Pepe, Ramos, Carvalho, Nacho and Arbeloa.
Midfielders: Essien, Khedira, Kaká, Özil, Alonso, Modric, Callejón and Di María.
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema and Morata.
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