This season has been yet another injury plauged season for Real Madrid. The club has been hammered with long-term injuries to a number of key players in the sqaud limiting Arbeloa's team selection, which has cost the team results and potentially trophies when the season is said and done. Real Madrid could use some good news on the injury front, and thankfully for Los Blancos that good news has come as we enter the crucial months of the season.
As photographed by Madrid Xtra on X, defender Eder Militao has returned to training following a months long absence recovering from a serious hamstring injury. The Brazilian returns just in time to help solidify the backline and help Los Blancos make an unlikely run at winning their 16th Champions League title.
Militao is back
The 28-year-old has been sidelined since December 7th after suffering a hamstring injury during Real's 2-1 defeat to Celta Vigo, with his absence having a major impact on the quality of the defensive line. The backline had already been somewhat shaky due to injuries before Militao got hurt, but following his injury the backline has looked extremely shaky and short on confidence, which can mostly be attributed to the Brazilian's absence.
Prior to his injury Militao was far and away the best defender in the squad putting in consistent man of the match level performances, looking like his old self following an injury plagued last couple of seasons. The Brazilian was on course to reclaiming his place as the best defender in the world before his untimely injury derailed his incredible start to the season.
Militao got back to training with the ball towards the end of February and has slowly been integrating himself back into training with the full squad ahead of a return. Given the seriousness of his hamstring injury, and his torn ACL's in back to back seasons it is understandable that the club is being cautious with his reintegration, now wanting to risk the possibility of a set back by rushing him back too quickly.
For Alvaro Arbeloa this news comes at possibly the best time. With David Alaba out injured and Dean Huijsen striggling for form, getting Militao back as we enter the crucial months when trophies are won or lost is the best news for the manager. The Brazilian most likely won't be back for the return leg against Manchester City next week, but he could be back in time for a potential Champions League quarter-finals matchup against red hot Bayern Munich, a matchup that the defender would desperetly be needed.