Real Madrid key midfielder set to return to full training tomorrow ahead of Racing Santander clash

Real Madrid key midfielder set to return to full training tomorrow ahead of Racing Santander clash Real Madrid are coming into the Racing Santander game this weekend with the confidence of five consecutive wins behind them. Jose Mourinho’s side are in excellent form following their 2-1 victory over Barcelona in La Liga and will be keen to keep up the momentum this weekend. One concern that Los Blancos had after El Clasico was captain Federico Valverde’s fitness. The Uruguayan was taken off around the hour mark against Hansi Flick’s side. It was confirmed after the game that while the South American star had suffered some discomfort, he had not sustained an injury. According to journalist Arancha Rodriguez , Valverde is expected to return to full team training tomorrow ahead of the Racing game. The 28-year-old club captain has been doing individual work over the past couple of days, but could resume group training on the eve of the game. This means he could be available for Real Madrid’s trip to El Sardinero on Sunday. Valverde key to Real Madrid’s form One of the major reasons behind Real Madrid’s winning streak has been Mourinho’s tactical reinvention involving Valverde. Fede Valverde’s switch to right-back has been transformative for Real Madrid. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images) The club captain started most games at the beginning of the season as a defensive midfielder. Against AS Roma, while chasing the game, Mourinho pushed him to right-back. The Portuguese tactician realised that having Valverde at right-back gave the team much better balance in both defence and midfield. The 28-year-old’s positional change allowed Mourinho to use either Bernardo Silva or Eduardo Camavinga in midfield. His expected return on Saturday means the manager could choose to keep him at right-back so as not to disrupt the continuity. Mourinho must handle his captain carefully Valverde is one of Real Madrid’s most-used players, having played 1,071 minutes across 13 appearances so far this season. Could Trent Alexander-Arnold be a starter against Racing Santander? (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images) However, the team are in the middle of a gruelling four-game away stretch, with constant travelling and less time to recover between games. If Valverde has been suffering from discomfort and is only just returning to full fitness, it doesn’t make sense to risk him against Verdiblancos . After all, Mourinho has two other reliable right-back options to rely on: Denzel Dumfries and Trent Alexander-Arnold. It remains to be seen whether the manager decides to line up without his captain this weekend and how the team fare against Racing Santander.