Even though Real Madrid have played really well to start the season -- well, at least they have in most games -- people forget very easily that they have also had a bunch of injuries.
Antonio Rudiger has missed a lot of time recently. Endrick has yet to play a single minute for Real Madrid this season, or even under Xabi Alonso in general.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal are both out for a few weeks, and it is uncertain who is going to play for the team at right-back against Barcelona in just under two weeks' time.
And then, there is the weird case of full-back Ferland Mendy. Mendy has not played for Real Madrid for over six months. He had not even been training until now, and it seemed like most fans would've forgotten that he is still part of the roster.
Ferland Mendy has finally returned to training, but how much will he play?
However, Mendy has finally returned to training. There were pictures of him training with the rest of the players who did not go on the international break on Tuesday, and it seems like the Frenchman is finally back.
It is weird. Real Madrid and Alonso now have three players to worry about in the same position. Alvaro Carreras and Fran Garcia were already considered the first and second choice left-backs respectively, but three is a crowd now that Mendy has joined the list once again.
Even though he is soon going to be eligible and ready to play games for Real Madrid, I do not know how many he will actually end up playing.
Let's look at this logically. Mendy is 30 years old, and has already missed a lot of gametime over the years for Real Madrid due to injuries. He was good at one point, and when he is able to consistently play without injury issues, he is great defensively - but that just does not seem to happen very often anymore.
Real Madrid struggle in the attack when Mendy has the ball, and his lack of press-resistance makes him a target with the ball, as he struggles to get the ball forward quick enough on many occasions now.
Besides, Carreras has been one of Real Madrid's best players this season. He has enjoyed a brilliant start to his career at the club, and he is showing no signs of slowing down. Garcia is a great choice to have as a back-up as well, so it makes Mendy's role minimal.
Mendy will have to prove himself all over again in training for Alonso to look at him as a genuine contender for that spot, because right now, it belongs to Carreras.