Trent Alexander-Arnold's fitness is one of the major doubts for Real Madrid as they get ready for the Clásico against Barcelona on Sunday.
Trent has been out of action since mid-September after pulling his hamstring in the Champions League game against Marseille. Initially ,it looked like he’d be out of commission for about 6 to 8 weeks, which would’ve put this big game in the bin.
However, things are starting to look a bit more positive, he’s since been back involved in training, getting stuck in with some sprints, tactical drills, and even joining in with the rest of the players for a bit of teamwork.
Real Madrid's medical staff are being super cautious with him, though. They're taking it "day-by-day" and they don’t want to take any risks with a top player like that. He’ll probably not start the Clásico, but Los Blancos will want him around in case they need to bring him on later.
With still some uncertainty over his situation, having him back on the bench will be a big plus for Madrid. He brings a proven right-back who’s comfortable at defending but also has the ability to get down the wing, knock in some crosses and pick out a pass from deep.
And having him on the bench means Alonso’s got a trick up his sleeve, he can bring him on at half-time if he needs a bit of energy and balance towards the end.
Alongside Trent, player like Dani Carvajal, Dean Huijsen, and Dani Ceballos are all starting to get back into training as well, so the team is missing quite a few key players in defense. But the only one that’s definitely out is Antonio Rüdiger, unfortunately with a long-term muscle injury.
What makes this Clásico a bit more special
This one’s got a bit more spice to it than usual. For Xabi Alonso, it’s his first go at managing Real Madrid for the Clásico. And on the other side, Marcus Sorg will be leading Barcelona, after Hansi Flick was sent off.
Barcelona go into the game looking pretty confident. Madrid want to make a statement and show who’s boss at the Bernabéu.
With the game now just two days away, the final team news and any last-minute injury updates could be massive. We’ll all be keeping an eye on the training reports to see if Alexander-Arnold is able to get through the high-intensity sessions without any signs of trouble.