Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham faces a month on the sidelines after sustaining a muscle injury in his lower right leg.
The 21-year-old picked up the issue during training on Friday, with head coach Carlo Ancelotti confirming he had picked up “a knock”.
Following further assessment, a club statement said: “Following tests carried out today on our player Jude Bellingham by the Real Madrid medical services, he has been diagnosed with an injury to the plantar muscle of his right leg.”
Bellingham played 87 minutes of Madrid’s 1-1 draw with Mallorca in their La Liga opener before being replaced by Turkey international Arda Guler.
The England international has become a key player for Real following his £89m move from Borussia Dortmund last summer.
He scored 19 goals and added six assists to help Madrid clinch a record-extending 36th La Liga title.
That impressive return saw him voted La Liga’s player of the season in his first year in Spain.
The former Birmingham City midfielder also added nine goal contributions in Europe as Madrid won the Champions League for the fifteenth time in their history.
The injury is likely to rule Bellingham out of England’s upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures against the Republic of Ireland on September 7 and Finland on September 10.
Madrid continue the defence of their title against Valladolid on Sunday.
(Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
