Real Madrid Handed Injury Boost Ahead Of United Clash

Real Madrid have been handed an injury boost ahead of their Champions League second leg clash with Manchester United with the news that captain Iker Casillas has returned to the squad for the game, according to Sky Sports News.

The Spanish giants head in to the match at Old Trafford on Tuesday with the tie finely poised after a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu in the first leg but it will be a huge boost if their number one goalkeeper is able to start.

Casillas hasn’t played since fracturing his left hand during a 5-0 win over Valencia back in January but returned to training on Thursday and was subsequently named in Jose Mourinho’s 24-man squad that flew into Manchester today.

The Spanish stopper had been surprisingly dropped by Mourinho over the Christmas period at the end of last year but the 31-year-old had managed to regain his first-team place from Antonio Adan before picking up the injury.

Casillas was initially ruled out for up to eight weeks which forced Mourinho into signing Diego Lopez from Sevilla during the January transfer window and the Spaniard has had the gloves ever since, but he could find himself among the substitutes if Casillas is passed fit to start.

The Real Madrid squad are due to arrive at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium on Monday morning to train ahead of the game and Casillas will no doubt be given every opportunity to prove his fitness.