Real Madrid: Alexander-Arnold out for two months as club confirm thigh injury

Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is reportedly set to be out of action for the next two months with the thigh injury that forced him off against Athletic Bilbao last night.

The full-back limped out of the 3-0 win at San Mames after 53 minutes, seemingly injuring himself in the act of making a long pass to Kylian Mbappe.

It is another blow for Alexander-Arnold, who was midway through his best performance in a Madrid shirt before the injury struck.

The former Liverpool man was instrumental in Madrid’s first two goals and delivering a display that would have answered some of his critics.

Alexander-Arnold has already suffered one major injury during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu, a hamstring problem that kept him out for six weeks.

Now he faces misses the next 11 games for Los Blancos. That will become 12 games if Madrid make the final of the Supercopa de Espana

The club said in a brief statement: “Following tests carried out today by the Real Madrid Medical Services on our player, Trent Alexander-Arnold, he has been diagnosed with a muscular injury to the rectus anterior quadriceps in his left leg. His progress will be monitored.”

If he does indeed miss two months, Alexander-Arnold will be unavailable for the LaLiga games with Celta Vigo, Alaves, Sevilla, Real Betis, Levante, Villarreal and Rayo Vallecano.

In the Champions League, he will miss next week’s clash with Manchester City and the ties with Monaco and Benfica next month. Alexander-Arnold will also play no part in the Supercopa semi-final with Atletico Madrid.

Carvajal also out for Real Madrid

To make matters more frustrating for player and club, Madrid are currently without Dani Carvajal, denying Alexander-Arnold the chance to make the right-back berth his own.

Raul Asencio filled in last night and he could continue in that role for the weekend game with Celta Vigo, or Alonso may turn to midfielder Federico Valverde and ask the Uruguay international to move into a defensive role.

Alexander-Arnold was not the only injury worry to emerge from what was an otherwise excellent night for Madrid. Eduardo Camavinga sustained an ankle injury and he will also be assessed today.

Of the win, boss Alonso said: “Today is today, it’s important. The performance of the team, the collective quality of the team, how we have controlled the game, with a lot of stability. I’ll keep that. Let’s go game by game. We knew it was an important moment and we can already think about Celta. The calendar is very demanding and does not allow too many turns, neither in good times nor in bad.”

The win moved Madrid back to within a point of La Liga leaders Barcelona.