|
Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric is set for a spell on the sidelines with a knee cartilage injury, the club have confirmed. When Modric missed training on Saturday, it appeared he was being rested for Sunday's home game against Eibar after completing 90 minutes in the midweek Champions League draw at Borussia Dortmund. Coach Zinedine Zidane did not mention any problem at his prematch news conference, at which he confirmed that playmaker Isco was set to start against Eibar at the Bernabeu. But a club statement released soon afterwards said Modric had undergone tests on his left knee and a cartilage problem had been discovered. "Following tests carried out on Luka Modric, he has been diagnosed with an injury to the articular cartilage in his left knee," the statement said. "His recovery will continue to be monitored." The statement did not say how long that recovery period might last, but Croatia international Modric, 31, looks set to miss the World Cup qualifiers in Kosovo on Oct. 6 and Finland three days later. Modric has suffered knee problems before and missed a chunk of the 2014-15 campaign with a ligament injury to his right knee. Zidane is currently without holding midfielder Casemiro and left-backs Fabio Coentrao and Marcelo, although the latter is expected to be back for the game at Real Betis on Oct. 15.
|
