REAL MADRID
Zidane confirms Bale, Navas and Kovacic to return to training on Thursday
Zinedine Zidane will soon be able to count on his entire squad as longer terms injured players return to training on Thursday.
Zinedine Zidane confirmed on Tuesday after his side thrashed APOEL Nicosia in the Champions League that he is expecting Gareth Bale, Keylor Navas and Mateo Kovacic back in training on Thursday as the French manager bolsters his squad ahead of a difficult run of fixtures.
Bale has been out since September with a calf issue, which was compounded by a hamstring problem he suffered following a recent attempted comeback.
Navas has missed significant time too after hurting himself on international duty. Zidane has not been able to call up his first choice keeper since the start of October.
Mateo Kovacic, the longest term absentee of the three, has been out since September with a patella tendon injury.
Real Madrid fixture list is packed to the hilt
Real Madrid have seven games, or possibly more if they advance in the Club World Cup, over the next five weeks, which includes that trip to the UAE and reached a crescendo with a Clásico on the 23rd of December.
Zidane will welcome the boost of three players who can not only contribute but give his side an edge and different options depending on the game and circumstance.