James Rodriguez will return to Real Madrid’s starting lineup for Sunday’s La Liga game at home to Granada after being out for two months with a broken bone in his foot, coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Saturday.
The Colombia midfielder, who has had a fine debut season since joining from Monaco in July, sustained the injury in the league game against Sevilla in early February and will come back into the side in place of the suspended Isco.
“James is fine and will start the match tomorrow,” Ancelotti told a news conference before adding that midfielder Sami Khedira and full back Dani Carvajal would be rested.
The return of James is a welcome boost for the European champions who have lost three of their last four matches in all competitions.
Meanwhile, Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is fit for Sunday’s trip to Celta Vigo in La Liga after a scare over a possible foot injury, coach Luis Enrique said on Saturday.
Messi, the top scorer in Spain’s top flight with 32 goals, did not feature in either of Argentina’s friendlies during the international break after sustaining a blow to his right foot which caused swelling and inflammation.
“He is perfectly fine, in perfect condition from what we have seen during training,” Luis Enrique told a news conference.
