Real Madrid and England have been dealt a significant blow as defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to be sidelined for at least two months after scans confirmed a torn muscle in his left thigh.
Injury Strikes During Bilbao Victory
The full-back was forced off during the second half of Real Madrid's 3-0 away win against Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday night. His departure came shortly after he provided a superb long-range assist for Kylian Mbappé's opening goal. Alexander-Arnold had been making his fourth consecutive start since returning from a previous issue to the same left thigh, sustained against Marseille in September.
While the Spanish club has not issued an official timeline, medical assessment indicates the 24-year-old is unlikely to return to action before February. This latest setback is a cruel twist for a player who had just begun to find his rhythm in the Spanish capital.
Major Fixtures Missed and World Cup Worries
The extended layoff will see Alexander-Arnold miss a crucial period for Carlo Ancelotti's side. He is certain to be absent for Wednesday's Champions League group stage clash with Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabéu.
His absence will also extend to the rest of the Champions League group phase, the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, potential Copa del Rey matches, and up to nine La Liga fixtures. Perhaps most painfully for the player, his already slim chances of forcing his way into Thomas Tuchel's England squad for next summer's World Cup are now fading rapidly.
Defensive Crisis for Real Madrid
The injury creates an immediate selection headache for manager Xabi Alonso. With experienced Spaniard Dani Carvajal still recovering from a knee injury, Real Madrid are left without a recognised senior right-back.
Alexander-Arnold's journey since his high-profile move from Liverpool in July has been stop-start. After featuring in every match during the Club World Cup, he has managed just 11 appearances from Madrid's 20 games this season due to fitness issues.
His recent comeback saw brief substitute appearances against his former club Liverpool and Rayo Vallecano, before he started the last three matches. His performance in Bilbao, where he completed 32 of his 38 passes, was widely considered his most impressive in a Madrid shirt prior to the injury.
