Carlo Ancelotti confirms double Real Madrid injury boost for Man City showdown

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has this afternoon revealed some altogether encouraging injury news in the Blancos camp.

This comes amid confirmation that long-term absentees Thibaut Courtois and Éder Militão are on the verge of respective returns to the pitch.

Both shot-stopper Courtois and defender Militão have of course been sidelined since all the way back in August, after remarkably suffering respective ACL tears in the space of a single week.

Recent images stemming from Real’s training ground had pointed towards the pair stepping up their recovery efforts, though, giving rise to hope that both could yet be seen back on the pitch before the season is out.

And, on Friday afternoon, Carlo Ancelotti confirmed precisely that.

In fact, Real’s headmaster went as far as to suggest that Courtois and Militão could well be at his disposal later this month, when Los Blancos mark their return to action post-international break in a La Liga meeting with Athletic Club.

As much, of course, would also mean both being available for the first leg of their side’s crunch Champions League quarter-final showdown with Manchester City.

“Courtois and Militao have started training with the team,” Ancelotti began. “We will use the break to give them rhythm. I think they will be back for Athletic and the quarter-finals.”

Conor Laird | GSFN