PA PhotosJose Callejon celebrates his goal with Gonzalo Higuain

Jose Maria Callejon is Jose Mourinho's kinda guy. He isn't one of Real Madrid's 'Galactico' stars - he never will be. He doesn't moan when he doesn't start matches - he's very much a squad player. A player who will not play week-in, week-out but is crucial in Mourinho's squad rotation way of playing.

Without players like Callejon, a player who gives 100% every time he's on the pitch, Madrid would not tick in the manner the 'Special One' so desires. He's a Madridista, too, which goes down well with the Bernabeu faithful and he even gives his Portuguese manager the added extra of saying he plays cantera players - Callejon came through Los Blancos' youth set-up before returning to the Spanish capital via Espanyol. He is Mourinho's perfect player.

Can the Motril-born 25-year-old push on from that squad player status and cement a place of his own in the first-team, though? Recent performances suggest he's capable; recent performances should give his manager at least a tiny, and welcome, selection headache for this weekend's trip to Valladolid, and beyond. Four goals in his last two starts for Los Blancos, albeit not in La Liga: Callejon scored twice in a rare start for Madrid in their 4-1 thrashing of Ajax in their final Champions League group match on Tuesday night. The double followed another two netted in the Copa del Rey clash against Alcoyano the week before. Callejon is very much a player in fine form.

"We can't let any opportunity go by," the former Espanyol man said after the Ajax game. "It's very difficult to play in the first team. The best players in the world are in Real Madrid and that's how it always is. We had to show them that we're Real Madrid and give the fans cause for celebration." But Callejon has been here before with Madrid. Since his arrival he's played well when called upon. He doesn't get involved in any dressing room, or indeed press, arguments - he just gets on with his job. He's reliable, he plays well, he scores - he does what is asked of him. But he's yet to nail down a first-team spot - not yet.

For many he's the underrated star of the Bernabeu. Big names such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Mesut Ozil, Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos are always going to make the headlines whether it be for the right reasons, or the wrong ones. A player such as Callejon rarely does, not even after a brace of goals in each of his last two games. Of course, this is not helped by his failure to secure regular first-team starts for Los Blancos, but can that change? Or will Callejon always be that reliable squad player at the Bernabeu?

"I always think of Callejon because he always gives his all on the pitch and plays with a smile," said Mourinho post-Ajax. It makes you wonder, therefore, why the Portuguese does not think of Callejon, a player he brought to the club, as a regular first-team starter. Even more so given his reported fall-outs with some of his first-team squad such as Ozil. He is regularly the first man Mourinho will go to from the substitutes' bench on a match day, whether Madrid be leading or trailing, but his starting opportunities are few and far between.

The Spaniard has started three Liga games for Madrid this season and has come off the bench eight times. If ever there was a time for Mourinho to trust in his abilities to start a match and do well, it's Saturday night's trip to Valladolid. Callejon has been in top form in recent matches and his reward should be a starting role at the Estadio Jose Zorrilla. Trying telling that to players such as Luka Modric, Ozil and Angel di Maria, though. The latter two were both on the bench for the midweek European game, and probably only rested as far as Mourinho's rotation policy goes. Will that change this weekend? Will Callejon get three starts from four matches?

One thing is for certain - Los Blancos simply cannot allow anymore slip-ups in La Liga. Not this weekend, not after Christmas, not next March. Many believe the title race is over but while the points are still there to be played for, Jose Mourinho and his men will not be throwing in the towel. Eleven points it stands at. If - and it's a big if - Madrid can close the gap on leaders Barcelona in the their three league games before the winter break then there will be at least some light at the end of the tunnel. A glimmer of hope of hauling the Catalans back, a bit of momentum to take into 2013. Those three games are against Valladolid, Espanyol and Malaga. Barca face Real Betis, Atletico Madrid and Valldolid.

Not that three points will automatically be in the bag for Madrid this weekend. Valladolid have made a good start to their season and sit in seventh in La Liga with just one home defeat from seven league matches so far this season. They are one of, if not the, surprise packages of the season and they will be out to continue that and inflict more away woe on Los Blancos. Madrid's away form has not been good this term. They lost their last match on their travels 1-0 at Betis and have also fallen to somewhat shock defeats at Sevilla and Getafe so far.

Callejon starting aside, Mourinho will have another, more unwelcome, selection headache ahead of the trip north following Fabio Coentrao's injury set-back in midweek. His countryman has resumed training following his muscle injury sustained in the Ajax match but is unlikely to be fit for Saturday night. It means more rotation at the back, with Raphael Varane likely to come into the centre and Sergio Ramos probably moving out to left-back - again - with Marcelo still sidelined and Nacho unlikely to be given a chance. Michael Essien has returned to full training, however, and could be available to feature.

Follow Nicholas on Twitter @nicholasrigg

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