Real Madrid handed major injury boost as key player returns to team training ahead of Leganes clash: Reports

Real Madrid have been handed a major injury boost as winger Rodrygo Goes is back to training ahead of the side’s clash with Leganes. The two sides will face off in LaLiga at Estadio Municipal de Butarque on Sunday, November 24.

Rodrygo suffered a muscle injury in Madrid's last match before the international break. The Brazilian was forced off the pitch in the 20th minute of his side’s 4-0 win over Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabeu on November 11. The injury was a major setback, as he was just returning to action after missing out on Real Madrid’s 4-0 El Clasico loss to Barcelona due to a hamstring.

The 23-year-old was expected to be out for at least five weeks. Consequentially, he was not invited to the national team for Brazil’s World Cup qualifying matches against Venezuela and Uruguay this month.

However, according to Madrid Zone on X, Rodrygo is back training on the ball. This means that the Brazilian star could well be in contention for the Madrid derby against Leganes.

Rodrygo’s return is huge news for Carlo Ancelotti whose team have been heavily plagued with injuries this season. The Brazilian is one of the key players in the manager’s setup. He has featured in 15 games across competitions this term, contributing three goals and two assists.

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France manager backs Real Madrid’s star Kylian Mbappe amid current struggles

France head coach Didier Deschamps is confident that Kylian Mbappe will be back to his best soon. The 26-year-old joined Real Madrid in the summer on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) but has yet to hit top gear.

Although he has netted eight goals and provided two assists in 16 games, Mbappe has found the net just once in his last seven games for Los Blancos. His current struggles have also seen him being omitted from France’s squad for the October and November international breaks.

Didier Deschamps recently said about Mbappe’s form (via Football Espana):

"There’s no reason to think he will not return to his best. I want him to, and I don’t see why he won’t. He’s going through a difficult period, but he has everything to recover his best form.

“You tell me I’m crazy for playing him at centre forward, but his last two coaches at club level played him centrally. He doesn’t have the profile of Olivier Giroud, so it depends on the team you’re playing against.”

Mbappe will hope to get back on the scoresheet when Real Madrid faces Leganes away on Sunday.