Real Madrid handed Kylian Mbappe fitness boost ahead of FIFA Intercontinental Cup final | OneFootball

Real Madrid have named Kylian Mbappe in a 24-player travelling squad for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final in Qatar, suggesting the Frenchman could be available to feature.

Mbappe missed the weekend's surprise draw with Rayo Vallecano in La Liga, a fitness issue that coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted he has found confusing amid a lightened workload.

But Mbappe, who has continued to score goals - netting 12 in 22 appearances - despite struggling to adapt since the move from Paris Saint-Germain, was with the Madrid squad when the plane touched down in Doha on Monday. He is listed in Ancelotti's selection, with the group to train on Tuesday.

The final against Mexican side Pachuca is scheduled for Wednesday evening.

Ancelotti provided a positive update for Mbappe on Tuesday. "Kylian trained yesterday and had good feelings," the Italian told reporters. "Everything went good. We will see during training today. We are optimistic."

Mbappe is yet to truly catch fire in Madrid colours / Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/GettyImages

Eduardo Camavinga is also part of the squad. The midfielder made his return from a hamstring injury suffered last month as a substitute over the weekend. Vinicius Junior is named too, even though it was reported he may not play again until 2025. Madrid, do however, occasionally include unavailable players to allow them to be part of the occasion - like with David Alaba in last season's Champions League final and Camavinga at the UEFA Super Cup in August.

What is apparent is the lack of defensive depth at Ancelotti's disposal, with threadbare options across the back four due to injuries to Alaba, Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao and Ferland Mendy.

The new Intercontinental Cup, which shares the same name as the now defunct competition played annually from 1960 until 2004, has been brought into the calendar as a replacement for the FIFA Club World Cup following its expansion and move to a quadrennial summer cycle.

Madrid earned a bye to the final. Pachuca have already played twice in Qatar over the past week to secure their place in the showpiece, beating recently crowned Copa Libertadores winners Botafogo and reigning African champions Al Ahly to make it through earlier rounds.

Madrid were the inaugural winners of the original Intercontinental Cup, beating Uruguayan giants Penarol over two legs. The first game in Montevideo finished goalless, but the return leg in Spain two months later was a 5-1 victory, featuring goals from Ferenc Puskas and Alfredo Di Stefano.

Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Andriy Lunin and Fran Gonzalez.

Defenders: Lucas Vazquez, Jesus Vallejo, Fran Garcia, Antonio Rudiger, Youssef Enriquez, Raul Asencio, Lorenzo Aguado.

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, Luka Modric, Aurelien Tchouameni, Arda Guler, Dani Ceballos.

Forwards: Vinicius Jr, Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo, Endrick, Brahim Diaz, Gonzalo Garcia, Victor Munoz.