Real Madrid have welcomed Ferland Mendy back into their squad for Sunday's La Liga clash with Sevilla.
Mendy has been absent since the clash with Girona on December 7 due to a muscular problem, and it had initially been thought that the France international would be missing until 2025.
However, Mendy has returned to the squad for Los Blancos' final match of the year, which comes at Bernabeu against Sevilla.
David Alaba is closing in on a return after more than a year out with a serious knee injury, but the Austria international is not expected to be available for selection until the middle of next month.
Meanwhile, Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal are long-term absentees due to ACL injuries of their own; Vinicius Junior is also unavailable for selection against Sevilla through suspension, with the Brazilian picking up a milestone yellow card in the 3-3 draw with Rayo Vallecano last weekend.
Real Madrid's Ferland Mendy pictured on August 20, 2024© Imago
Mendy returns to Real Madrid squad against Sevilla
There had been some concern over the fitness of Jude Bellingham after Wednesday's 3-0 victory over Pachuca in the final of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, but the midfielder has been named in the squad.
The same can also be said for Kylian Mbappe, Thibaut Courtois and Federico Valverde; all three were absent from Friday's training session, but it was a precautionary measure.
"Recovered (Mendy), available for tomorrow. Alaba is also doing parts of training, will be back with the squad on the 30th and will be available, I think, for mid-January," Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti told reporters during his pre-match press conference before the squad was confirmed.
"We're back after many away games... and we want to finish 2024 well. Sevilla compete, they are tough, but the aim will be to finish the year with a win. It will be a more competitive league than in recent years. Atletico [Madrid] have all the resources to fight for it and they will. It will be entertaining. And it can be won with less than 90 points."
Real Madrid are currently third in the La Liga table, one point behind the leaders Barcelona, who will tackle second-placed Atletico Madrid on home soil on Saturday night.
Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring for Real Madrid on December 10, 2024© Imago
Ancelotti: 'Mbappe's adaptation period is over'
Mbappe was on the scoresheet against Pachuca last time out to make it 13 goals in 23 appearances for Real Madrid this season, and Ancelotti has said that the attacker's "adaptation period is over".
"His adaptation period is over, he's already showing a good version of himself, but he can still improve. He's recovered from his last injury and I see him more motivated, excited. He needed this time, like anyone else, but it's over now," said Ancelotti.
Mbappe has nine goals and one assist in 15 La Liga appearances this season and is again expected to feature through the middle against Sevilla at Bernabeu.
Real Madrid squad vs. Sevilla:
Courtois, Lunin, Mestre; Vazquez, Vallejo, F Garcia, Rudiger, Mendy, Asencio; Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Modric, Tchouameni, Guler, Ceballos; Mbappe, Rodrygo, Endrick, Brahim
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