Keylor Navas is set to return in goal for Real Madrid as they welcome Tottenham to Santiago Bernabeu in a Group H match on Tuesday.
Zinedine Zidane has been greeted with some positive news ahead of the visit of the North London side to the Spanish capital on Tuesday. Goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who missed the trip to Getafe on the weekend due to a minor abductor injury, is set to return against Spurs, having rejoined training on Sunday.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Zidane confirmed that the Costa Rican shot stopper has regained fitness ahead of the Champions League tie, and is likely to return to the starting eleven.
“He’s trained well, he’s with us and has no problems. Tomorrow you’ll see if he plays.”
Zidane also talked about the three players on the sidelines – Dani Carvajal (pericarditis), Mateo Kovacic (groin) and Gareth Bale (calf). While the Real Madrid boss did not specify a return date for any of the players, he confirmed that the trio is inching closer to returning to action.
“I can’t tell you the date they’ll return. With Dani we have to wait, but every day is one less. He’s really looking forward to coming back with us. Mateo needs more time, but he’s getting better. Regarding Gareth, I can’t tell you if he’s going to be back for the second game. I hope he’s back with us soon.”
Finally, Zidane has recalled Raphael Varane and Casemiro to his squad after resting the duo on the weekend. But there is no place in the 19-man squad for Jesus Vallejo and Borja Mayoral.
Meanwhile, Mauricio Pochettino, too, had some good news to report ahead of the trip to Madrid, with Danny Rose (knee) and Mousa Dembele (ankle) returning to training. Having stepped up their recovery, the duo has been included in the travelling squad, and could start on the bench on Tuesday.
TEAM NEWS: Danny Rose and @mousadembele have both travelled to Madrid and will train with the team tonight. pic.twitter.com/dC42fgXtnX
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 16, 2017
Speaking on the availability of the duo, the Tottenham boss confirmed that Rose will be part of a matchday squad for the first time in nearly ten months, while Dembele is in contention as well.
“Danny Rose will be on the bench – that’s important, maybe he’s not fit to play from the beginning but to help the team. It’s very good for the team, good for him after nearly 10 months away and it’s always important that players feel they can be involved and part of the team. Mousa Dembele is here as well.”
Pochettino, though, will be without the services of Georges-Kevin Nkoudou (concussion), Ben Davies (ill), Erik Lamela (hips) and Victor Wanyama (knee), although the latter has now returned to training. Dele Alli is also unavailable as he serves the last of his three-match European ban.
