Jude Bellingham unable to complete Real Madrid training: is he injured? Will he play against Granada?

For a while, it looked as if Jude Bellingham could be the latest big name to be added to ever-growing Real Madrid’s injury list, which already contains Vinícius Júnior, Eduardo Camavinga, Luka Modric and Thibaut Courtois among others.

Bellingham shakes head after light jogging

The English international, who has scored 15 goals in 16 games for Los Blancos this season, did make an appearance at training on Friday but was wearing sneakers rather than boots and didn’t do any ball work. He was instead spotted doing some light jogging but lasted barely five minutes before stopping in front of the coaching staff, shaking his head. With the session for the rest of his teammates getting underway, the midfielder headed away from the group and back into the RM City complex with his head down, failing to come back out.

Midfielder’s injury scare against Napoli

As a result, it initially appeared Bellingham would have to be considered a serious doubt for Saturday’s LaLiga game at home to Granada. In Wednesday’s Champions League game against Napoli at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, the Englishman appeared to roll his ankle towards the end of the first half but reappeared for the second and played the full 90 minutes, picking up the MVP award.

The former Borussia Dortmund star has also been suffering with a shoulder issue in recent weeks, although the suggestion very much seemed to be that he had now strained a leg muscle. With just over 24 hours to go until Los Merengues host Granada, it appeared more than likely he would be miss out.

Ancelotti: “Bellingham will play against Granada”

Until, that is, Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti spoke at his pre-match press conference later on Friday. “He’ll be ready to play tomorrow, he’s fine. He has a minor knock and we preferred to not to risk aggravating it, but he’ll be OK tomorrow and is going to play.”

Kepa fit to return, Güler and Modric still out

If that is ultimately the case, Madrid will be without seven members of their first-team squad, although goalkeeper Kepa is now fit again. Whether the on-loan Chelsea stopper returns to the starting line-up remains to be seen, with Andriy Lunin having kept goal in four consecutive matches.

Arda Güler, who has still to make his debut for the club, has also returned to training but is continuing with his recovery and won’t be involved against Granada. He is more likely to come into the first-team picture after the turn of the year.

Real Madrid injury update: which players are unavailable?

With Güler (thigh strain), Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militão (both ACL tears), Eduardo Camavinga (knee ligament damage), Aurélien Tchouaméni (stress fracture), Luka Modric (thigh strain) and Vinícius Júnior (thigh muscle tear) also sidelined, manager Carlo Ancelotti is unable to call upon the services of over a third of his regular first-team squad (eight of 23 players).