Real welcome back Ronaldo

Portuguese playmaker shakes off ankle knock

Last updated: 10th September 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Real welcome back Ronaldo

Ronaldo: Over ankle problem

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Cristiano Ronaldo has been included in the Real Madrid squad to face Osasuna on Saturday.

The Portuguese winger was expected to be sidelined for up to three weeks after picking up an ankle knock in Real's Primera Liga opener against Real Mallorca a fortnight ago.

However, with the international break having arrived at a welcome juncture for the capital giants, he has been able to shake off the problem ahead of schedule.

Ronaldo was forced to sit out Portugal's opening fixtures in Euro 2012 qualifying, and his absence was keenly felt.

Madrid, though, could be about to benefit from his quick-fire return, as they have some important fixtures coming up.

Having been held to a shock goalless draw by Mallorca, they will be desperate to take maximum points off Osasuna this weekend.

They are also set to get their UEFA Champions League up and running against Ajax on Wednesday.

Risk

Real boss Jose Mourinho is delighted to have his star turn back in contention at a vital time and insists Ronaldo is worth taking a risk on.

"Cristiano Ronaldo will be a starter. I am afraid of the possibility he may get injured again. I am afraid someone may hit him, but that's normal in football," he said.

"He has been training at least five hours a day. The medical staff and the player say he's 100 per cent fit to play, so he has the same risk of getting injured as the rest of his team-mates.

"He will play because he is fit and because it will be a difficult game."

Meanwhile, Portugal international Pepe is also back in the frame after shaking off a calf problem and is expected to be returned to the heart of the back four.

Kaka, Fernando Gago, Raul Albiol and Ezequiel Garay are all missing, while Mahamadou Diarra has been omitted from the squad, but Real's injury woes appear to be relenting.