Boost for Real Madrid as injured defender resumes training ahead of Villarreal clash

Boost for Real Madrid as injured defender resumes training ahead of Villarreal clash According to Mundo Deportivo , Ibrahima Konate is on course to return for Real Madrid’s La Liga meeting with Villarreal on Saturday after completing the full training session with his teammates at Valdebebas on Tuesday morning. Konate was one of several Real Madrid players to suffer an injury while away with his national team, in his case France. The centre-back was injured during a training session and returned to Madrid, where he was diagnosed with an injury to the collateral ligament in his right leg that was expected to keep him out for around a week . Konate eases Mourinho’s defensive concerns Konate has been recovering at Valdebebas and now looks ready to feature at the Santiago Bernabeu against Villarreal this weekend. He completed the entire session with the group and, barring any setbacks, will be available to José Mourinho on Saturday. His return would provide a major boost to Real Madrid’s options in central defence. Dean Huijsen is suspended, Raul Asencio is injured and Eder Militao, despite having trained for several days, lacks match fitness after spending months on the sidelines. Back in training. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images) That had left Antonio Rudiger as Mourinho’s only fully fit senior centre-back. If Konate is available against Villarreal, the manager will not need to consider using Aurelien Tchouameni or Denzel Dumfries in central defence. International players gradually return Meanwhile, the Real Madrid coach also began welcoming back some of his internationals today, with Vinicius Jr., Endrick, Brahim Diaz, Yan Diomande and Denzel Dumfries taking part in the second training session of the week at the Ciudad Real Madrid. The five joined Militao, Alvaro Carreras, Rudiger, Tchouameni, Thibaut Courtois and Andriy Lunin, who were among the first-team players not called up by their countries. Thiago Pitarch also trained with the senior squad after accumulating minutes with Castilla and Spain Under-20s during the international break. Back in training after international duty. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images) Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Guler and Bernardo Silva have not yet returned after representing their respective national teams. Meanwhile, Huijsen and Marc Cucurella could be in action for Spain against Croatia later tonight, although Carlos Espi has been left out of the squad. Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold also have a match for England against the Czech Republic today. Real Madrid return to competitive action on Saturday 10 October, when they host Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabeu on matchday eight. Mourinho’s side currently sit fourth in the league, six points behind leaders Barcelona.