Real Madrid and England have been dealt a significant blow as defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to be sidelined for at least two months after scans confirmed a torn muscle in his left thigh.
Injury Strikes During Bilbao Victory
The full-back was forced off during the second half of Real Madrid's 3-0 away win against Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday night. His departure came shortly after he had provided a superb long-range assist for Kylian Mbappé's opening goal. This was Alexander-Arnold's fourth consecutive start since recovering from a previous issue to the same left thigh, sustained against Marseille in September.
While the Spanish club has not issued an official timeline, medical assessment indicates the 24-year-old is unlikely to return to action before February 2023. This layoff throws his already slim prospects of making Thomas Tuchel's England squad for next summer's World Cup into serious doubt.
Major Fixtures Missed for Club and Country
The injury has immediate and severe consequences for Carlo Ancelotti's side. Alexander-Arnold will definitely miss Wednesday's crucial Champions League group stage clash with Manchester City, as well as the remainder of the tournament's league phase.
His absence extends to a host of other key fixtures. He is now a major doubt for the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, potential Copa del Rey matches, and up to nine La Liga games. The situation is compounded by the fact that fellow right-back Dani Carvajal is also recovering from a knee injury, leaving Madrid without a recognised senior player in that position.
A Flicker of Form Cut Short
The setback is particularly frustrating as the former Liverpool player had just begun to find his rhythm in the Spanish capital. After cautious cameos against his old club and Rayo Vallecano in early November, he started against Olympiacos, Elche, Girona, and Bilbao.
His performance at San Mamés was widely regarded as his best in a Madrid shirt, where he completed 32 of his 38 passes, including the exquisite 50-yard ball for Mbappé's goal. Questions had been raised about his adaptation, with manager Xabi Alonso occasionally opting to use Fede Valverde at right-back, but this display suggested a corner had been turned.
Since his high-profile move in July, Alexander-Arnold has managed just 11 appearances from a possible 20 games for Los Blancos, with this latest injury ensuring his stop-start season continues.
