Real Madrid fringe midfielder could get a rare starting opportunity vs Celta Vigo | OneFootball

Real Madrid were dealt a double setback earlier his week as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Eduardo Camavinga picked up injuries against Athletic Club.

It meant that Los Blancos have now seen as many as 13 fitness problems in the squad over the past month, coinciding with a difficult run of results for Xabi Alonso’s side.

What the situation does is also opens up paths for some of the overlooked members of the squad to get a look-in into the team.

Dani Ceballos to start vs Celta Vigo

In one such case, AS reports that the recent double injury blow could lead to a starting berth for fringe midfielder Dani Ceballos against Celta Vigo this weekend.

The Spanish midfielder has had limited involvement, a situation that has followed him since his return from his loan at Arsenal, apart from occasional spells in which he played more regularly.

After the Olympiacos clash, where he played in the second half, he has not played a single minute against Girona or against Athletic Club.

Waiting for his chance. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

The reason may lie in his performance against Olympiacos as he produced a poor showing after replacing Arda Guler at half time, losing multiple balls and failing to control the rhythm of the game as the situation required.

However, circumstances are now working in his favour following the injuries to Trent, whose absence will be long, and Camavinga, who will try to be fit for the match against Manchester City but is unlikely to play against Celta this Sunday.

One of Alonso’s options is to move Federico Valverde to right-back due to the absences of Dani Carvajal and Trent. If he does so, two openings will appear in midfield, provided the manager keeps the 4-4-2 that worked so well at San Mames.

One, Valverde’s right midfield position, would be taken by Guler, who was a substitute in Bilbao. The other, Camavinga’s position, could be given to Ceballos, who will want to make a big impression if given an opportunity.