The ongoing international break has delivered yet another blow to Real Madrid, with Dean Huijsen becoming the latest player to pick up a fitness concern and adding further strain to an already stretched squad.
Huijsen has been ruled out of Spain’s clash with Georgia after reporting discomfort in his groin. This makes him the sixth Madrid player whose involvement against Elche is now in serious doubt once club football resumes.
Madrid’s concerns had already mounted on Friday when France released both Kylian Mbappe and Eduardo Camavinga due to fitness problems. And now Huijsen’s setback further worsens Xabi Alonso’s growing injury headache.
The centre-back felt pain during Spain’s training session and has been sent for tests to determine whether the issue is more than mild discomfort. As a precaution, he will miss Saturday’s World Cup qualifier.
Spain, still chasing automatic World Cup qualification, are hopeful Huijsen can recover in time for their decisive meeting with Turkiye on Tuesday. Whether he remains with the national team or returns to Madrid will depend on the scan results expected in the coming days.
Real Madrid return from the international break with Alonso facing fitness concerns over six key players ahead of their clash with Elche. Thibaut Courtois and Federico Valverde withdrew from national duty injured, while Franco Mastantuono is struggling with a groin problem that makes him the biggest doubt for the weekend.
There is growing optimism that Courtois, Valverde and possibly Mbappe, who is managing an ankle issue, will be available while Camavinga and Huijsen both require further tests. But early indications suggest neither injury is serious as Madrid hope to avoid a deeper crisis.
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