REAL MADRID
Real Madrid train with five new faces but no Gareth Bale
The return of Courtois, Hazard, Casemiro, Militao and Areola with no sign of Varane while Bale worked out in the gym after picking up a knock with Wales.
Real Madrid completed their training session on Wednesday, their third of the week, but the first with most of their international players back in the capital. They completed the work-out with five new faces as belgian duo Courtois and Hazard returned along with Areola, Casemiro and Militao. The first two mentioned played their last game on Sunday but had two days off after the break. The last two also played on Sunday but flew home from Singapore and landed in Madrid on Monday night before enjoying Tuesday off.
Areola didn't play a single minute during the break but landed on Monday night too and enjoyed a day off. Varane wasn't at training on Wednesday and could be taking advantage of a second day off but Real Madrid have not briefed the press on his situation.
The five new faces worked with the rest of the group ahead of their clash with Mallorca at Son Moix on Saturday at 21:00 CEST. It's a game that Zidane has some issues to solve ahead of. Nacho and Asensio remain out long-term while Modric, Kroos and Lucas Vazquez are also injured. That leaves Zidane with four midfielders - Valverde, Casemiro, Isco and James. Valverde played his second game during the break on Tuesday and is on his way back to Madrid.
Valverde and Casemiro on the verge of overdoing it
If he does enjoy his day off after completing his international duties, it will mean Valverde only gets one session in ahead of the game against Mallorca. Casemiro trained on Wednesday and should train on Thursday and Friday but the problem is that he is at risk of overdoing it. He played 180 minutes during the international break despite them being two friendlies and he travelled 22,600 kilometres to travel to Singapore and back. The Brazilian is the player with most minutes in Real Madrid's squad so far this season with 870 played out of a total 900.
Modric has a quad injury and recovered with the remainder of those injured. Kroos was on the field with the ball at his feet and trained on his own, the same as Lucas Vazquez, who is suffering from discomfort in his right calf muscle.
Gareth Bale worked in the gym after hurting himself against Wales. Ryan Giggs said he was treated for cramps after the game but that is two sessions now that the attacker has missed and worked out in the gym during.
Zidane also called up Altube, Chust, Javi Hernández, Guillem, Ayoub and Blanco from Castilla; And from Juvenil A Pablo Ramón and Esteban to beef up the numbers.