Trent Alexander-Arnold's ambitions of securing a place in England's World Cup squad have been dealt a significant blow after Real Madrid confirmed a fresh injury setback for the defender.
Injury Diagnosis and Recovery Timeline
The club announced on Thursday that medical tests have diagnosed the 27-year-old with a muscle injury in the rectus anterior of his left quadriceps. He was forced off during Madrid's 3-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday night.
According to prominent Spanish journalist Arancha Rodríguez, the former Liverpool right-back is expected to be sidelined for approximately two months as he recovers. This latest issue compounds a difficult start to his career in the Spanish capital, where he has struggled for consistency and form.
Mounting Pressure for Club and Country
The injury could not have come at a worse time for Alexander-Arnold. He now has just four months to reclaim a regular starting spot at the Bernabéu and convince England manager Thomas Tuchel of his worth before World Cup selection.
Tuchel recently omitted Alexander-Arnold from his latest England squad for World Cup qualifiers, preferring the likes of Reece James and Jarell Quansah. The manager explicitly stated that Quansah, Alexander-Arnold's former Liverpool teammate now at Bayer Leverkusen, was currently "a little bit ahead" in the pecking order.
This is the second major injury setback for the player this season; a hamstring problem previously caused him to miss seven matches across La Liga and the Champions League.
A Turbulent Start in Madrid
Alexander-Arnold's move to Real Madrid on a free transfer last summer, which netted Liverpool a mere £10 million in compensation, remains a sore point for many Reds fans. His departure was met with disappointment given his previous assertions about wanting to spend his entire career at Anfield.
His performances have drawn criticism from sections of the Spanish media. Following a 1-1 draw with Elche, renowned writer Alfredo Relaño delivered a scathing assessment, describing Alexander-Arnold as looking "clueless and insubstantial, with the expression of a rabbit in the headlights" and noting his influence in open play was "non-existent".
Despite the criticism, he had shown flashes of his quality, notably providing a superb pass for Kylian Mbappé in the build-up to a goal just before his injury against Bilbao.
With a two-month layoff now confirmed, the clock is ticking loudly for Trent Alexander-Arnold to overcome his fitness woes and finally make his mark in Spain, with a World Cup dream hanging in the balance.
