Raphael Varane has returned to full training with Real Madrid -- while early Clasico week doubts over the fitness of Blancos superstar Cristiano Ronaldo appear to have been misguided.
Varane missed Saturday's 2-1 La Liga win at home to Sporting Gijon after receiving a knock to his previously troublesome right knee during the previous midweek's 2-1 Champions League win at Sporting Lisbon.
But the France international took a full part in Monday's training at Madrid's Ciudad de Futbol, and now looks available again for coach Zinedine Zidane.
Reports in the local media had Ronaldo picking up a muscle strain after scoring Madrid's two goals in Saturday's game, but the Portugal captain was pictured smiling and taking part with his teammates in Monday's session, which had taken place behind closed doors.
����✅
First training session of the week at #RMCity! ���� https://t.co/2kHjExFgCE#HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/mNz16lvoYY
- Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) November 28, 2016
Fit again midfielder Casemiro is expected to get some playing time in Wednesday's Copa del Rey last-32 second leg at home to La Cultural Leonesa, with Zidane likely to rest a number of first team stars including Ronaldo, considering his team are defending a first leg 7-1 advantage against the third-tier side.
Madrid's post-training club statement on Monday included the names of some Castilla players likely to be included by Zidane for Wednesday's game, while suggesting that full-backs Danilo and Fabio Coentrao were fitness doubts.
"The squad completed the first session of the week at Real Madrid City, where preparations got underway for Wednesday's Copa del Rey last 32 second-leg clash against Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa at the Bernabeu (7 p.m. CET)," the statement said.
"Raphael Varane trained with the group, whilst Toni Kroos and Alvaro Morata both completed ball work alone out on the training field. Meanwhile, Gareth Bale continues his recovery, whilst Danilo and Fabio Coentrao worked out indoors.
"Physical and ball work took centre stage in a session in which Zinedine Zidane included Real Madrid Castilla players Alvaro Tejero, Enzo Zidane and Martin Odegaard.
"The Whites completed a running session which lasted half an hour, before working their way around a circuit with the balls, in which they took part in rondos, one- and two-touch foot-volley games and exercises to work on their reflexes."