At a glance
- Eder Militao, Dani Ceballos and Raul Asencio all look primed for a return to action following the international break.
- Militao could be fit as soon as April 4’s meeting with Real Mallorca, but won’t be risked uneccesarily.
- There’s a fear that the Brazilian could relapse if he’s rushed back too soon.
With 13 players on international duty with their countries, Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa is working with a threadbare squad at Valdebebas this week as Mallorca await on the horizon.
While the fallout over Kylian Mbappe’s knee, and whether it was misdiagnosed, creates noise across the media, the manager has been boosted by the prospect of possibly welcoming back three players when club football takes over the calendar again.
They are namely Eder Miltao, Raul Asencio and Dani Ceballos, who are all currently in different stages of recovery.
Once they’re given the green light, though, these first team stars could act as reinforcements in the defence and midfield upon Los Blancos heading into a crucial part of the season fighting battles on La Liga and Champions League fronts.
Militao is on the final stretch for his Real Madrid comeback
A world class player with an ACL tear history, Militao suffered a biceps femoris rupture in his left leg back in December and has already missed 25 matches this term.
Yet to play under Arbeloa, however, who replaced his former teammate Xabi Alonso in the dugout following the Spanish Super Cup final defeat to FC Barcelona, the Brazilian is now on the home straight and training with the group problem-free.
Yet it’s Asencio that could grace the pitch first for Real Madrid
Though Militao could be available as soon as the mentioned away trip to Son Moix on April 4, Real Madrid’s medical staff is keen not to risk a relapse and will go “little by little” with the defender according to Mundo Deportivo.
With this in mind, it’s Raul Asencio that could be available, or rather, feature for Arbeloa first.
Knocked to the floor and hauled off after a collision with his teammate Eduardo Camavinga, during the Champions League playoff win over Benfica in February, the youngster “already seems recovered”.
As for Ceballos, he’s suffered with muscle injuries for close to five weeks now but is in the last stages of rehabilitation.
Arebeloa will be pleased to have increased options for Real Madrid
While none of these players should expect to be immediate starters given their circumstances or standing in the squad, having them as options is still a huge plus for Arbeloa.
The central defensive partnership currently consists of Antonio Rudiger and Dean Huijsen. But a suspension or knock suffered by either of them throws Real Madrid’s back line into crisis, and might push the coach to look at unproven Castilla prospects when huge games are soon arriving.
With Militao and Asencio incoming, however, that shouldn’t be an issue and also keeps competition for places healthy.
As for Ceballos, he’s struggled to find regularity this season after going through a patch where he convinced Alonso of his worth.
His availability could make Arbeloa think about breakthrough star Thiago Pitarch’s lot, with that promotion inspired by absences from the likes of Jude Bellingham and Ceballos himself.
Additionally, however, it’s worth noting that his former Castilla charge Pitarch appears to be a favourite of Arbeloa’s and has even kept established stars like Eduardo Camavinga out of the line up as of late.
