Jude Bellingham has made significant progress in his recovery from a high-grade ankle sprain, which he sustained during a match against Girona on 10 February. It has been 19 days since the injury, and the medical staff initially diagnosed him with three weeks of absence. However, he is recovering faster than expected, and his chances of playing in the upcoming match against Leipzig or Mestalla look very positive – despite the early prognosis, he would miss the UCL tie.Even though he is almost 100% recovered, the coaching staff is aware of the importance of the upcoming matches and will not take any risks with his health. If a relapse is possible, he will be kept on the bench. Despite this, his recovery has been smooth so far, and he has been making daily progress. Today, he will be tested again, and if he passes all the tests, he will join the group for the full session tomorrow. This will bring him closer to starting and will give him the green light for Mestalla. However, in case he feels any discomfort, he will be included in the squad but will start on the bench.Jude Bellingham is still training alone. His present against Valencia is difficult.— @AranchaMOBILE pic.twitter.com/uKrqnZOq9a— Madrid Universal (@MadridUniversal) February 29, 2024 The priority for the coaching staff is to ensure that he gains rhythm for the Champions League, and if everything goes well, he may get to play around 30 minutes in the second half. In this scenario, the player wears a strong ankle bandage to provide extra stability to prevent pain. This is a preventive measure. Interestingly, Bellingham is so young, just 20 years old, and rarely visits the infirmary. This injury is his longest one so far, lasting 19 days. His previous longest injury was 17 days due to a shoulder dislocation while playing for Madrid. If Bellingham is a substitute, Brahim will be an attacking midfielder. Brahim Diaz is eager to make the most of his minutes in the field as he chases his dream of being in the next national team call-up to play against Brazil at the Bernabeu. However, Madrid has shown that they can still win without Bellingham. In the past, Brahim played in the absence of Bellingham and the team still achieved seven wins and one draw. If Jude is not a starter against Valencia, Brahim will play instead, but it is currently uncertain. However, he will be included in the squad for the game.##NAJAVA_MECA_7910284##He wants to play at Mestalla, and his coach, Ancelotti, wants him to be there too. The match against Valencia is expected to be intense, but the player from Reggiolo will wait until the last moment for Jude Bellingham. However, there are doubts about his fitness as he has been training alone due to an injury to his left ankle sustained during a match against Girona. While he has made some progress, he has not yet trained with the rest of his teammates. The Whites want their top scorer to return, but they cannot risk further injury, especially with a crucial match against RB Leipzig in the UEFA Champions League.🚨 Jude Bellingham no longer feels pain in his ankle. He will have tests today. Real Madrid are optimistic. @diarioas pic.twitter.com/A57WaiOu41— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) February 29, 2024 Friday is the last opportunity for Bellingham to join the team, but only if he feels that he is fit enough to play without any risk. Although he may not start the match, his inclusion in the squad would boost the team. Joselu is also recuperating from an injury he sustained during a match against Rayo. He is hopeful to return to the game against Osasuna on 16 March. Meanwhile, Courtois and Militao are also working hard to recover from their injuries and are expected to return by the end of March. However, Alaba must wait until next season to recover from his third cruciate injury.
