Real Madrid injury update: Vallejo and Varane return to training; Ceballos injures neck

With Real Madrid set to play their next LaLiga match a week from today, they received some good news in training with the return of both Jesus Vallejo and Raphael Varane. However, there might be some missed time ahead for Dani Ceballos who was injured while on international duty. Here’s a full update on all three players

 Jesus Vallejo

The young center back, Vallejo, has yet to make his official return to the Real Madrid first team, having been out since mid-August after sustaining a strain to his thigh. With his injury, Real Madrid have been rather thin at the center back position having only Nacho as a backup option.

So thin in fact, defensive midfielder Casemiro was fielded as a center back alongside Nacho with Rafa Varane out injured, and Sergio Ramos suspended.

Zinedine Zidane received some good news Thursday as the 20-year-old was able to complete the entire training session with no problems.

He was then able to participate in every drill and do a workout of his own on Friday with most of the squad away on international duty.

This is great news for Zidane who will likely have Vallejo available for Real’s match against Levante next Saturday. As we have already seen in these first few matches, this team is lacking depth in two places: center back and striker.

Vallejo should be a good off the bench option should Varane remain out, or if Nacho needs to come off.

Raphael Varane

Rafa Varane is back in training, however, he is not participating in full team drills as of yet. The now regular center defender alongside Sergio Ramos picked up an undisclosed injury in the league opener at Deportivo La Coruña and has yet to play since.

The Frenchmen was back doing individual training last week ahead of the home opener against Valencia, but was held out with complications from the unknown ailment.

He continues to work alone while at training and is still yet to rejoin the team for a full workout. He was left off of the French national team roster for the international break and was replaced by Stoke City defender, Kurt Zouma.

Since the severity, or even the true nature of Varane’s injury has yet to be released, it’s hard to say when the French beast will be back. Rafa has had a great start to the season and has found his place firmly as a regular in this Real Madrid team.

He was clearly missed in the 2-2 draw against Valencia with many fans wondering when number 5 will be back on the pitch.

Dani Ceballos

Every Real Madrid fan I’m sure gasped at the news that Dani Ceballos suffered a neck injury while on duty with the Spanish U-21 national team Saturday against Italy.

Ceballos went up for a header against an Italian player and was either bumped or elbowed in the back of the neck, sending him sprawling to the turf. The young midfielder remained down long enough to have a stretcher brought out.

After being taken off, Dani was taken immediately to a hospital in Toledo where he was treated for the injury, but soon after released with the report labeling the injury as a “sprained neck.”

I’m not going to pretend to be a doctor, but from what the medical report says, this isn’t as bad an injury as everyone was playing it out to be at first.

When the news first broke that Dani was being taken to the hospital for a neck injury, my first thought was a career threatening or serious injury. But the fact that he will still travel with the team this coming weekend is a good sign that this isn’t anything to worry too much about.

While he may miss some time with the problem, it is overall good news for Real.

Next: Staff Roundtable – Grading Real Madrid’s summer transfer window

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