New setback for Woodgate
Friday, October 8, 2004
Article summary
Defender Jonathan Woodgate faces a further wait for his Real Madrid CF debut after the recurrence of a thigh injury.
Article body
Training incident
English international Woodgate was thought to be in the final stages of his recovery after ripping muscle fibres in his left thigh ahead of UEFA EURO 2004™. But he limped out of a training game against Madrid reserves on Thursday after breaking into a sprint. Club doctor Alfonso del Corral confirmed that Woodgate, who is yet to make a first-team appearance following a €22m summer switch from Newcastle United FC, had aggravated his previous injury.
US clinic
Madrid are refusing to set a date for Woodgate's possible return, but the 24-year-old seems unlikely to be back in time for the UEFA Champions League Group B fixture at home to FC Dynamo Kyiv on 19 October. He is expected to fly to the United States within the next couple of days to start a recovery programme. The club hope a conservative treatment by American specialists will suffice rather than resolving the problem with surgery.
