Real Madrid defender set to make long-awaited comeback vs Las Palmas next month | OneFootball

After the brief mid-season break, Real Madrid resumed training today as they stare at a busy period in January 2025.

But the imminent return to action for Los Blancos also comes with good news regarding the fitness of a key veteran.

David Alaba set to return in January

Indeed, according to MARCA, Real Madrid defender David Alaba is in the final phase of his recovery and will make his return on the pitch next month.

If everything goes according to plan, the La Liga fixture against Las Palmas on January 19 is seen as the game where the Austrian international finally makes his long-awaited comeback.

Alaba has now been out of action for more than a year after suffering an ACL injury in December 2023.

Alaba is set to return. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

The veteran defender’s recovery went slower than expected but he has been making solid progress in recent weeks, having resumed part of the training sessions.

As things stand, Alaba is now in the final stretch of his recovery process and if there are no fresh setbacks, he will back on the field mid-January.

However, it means that Carlo Ancelotti will be unable to call on the experienced centre-back for the upcoming matches against Valencia, Deportivo Minera, RCD Mallorca and the potential Spanish Super Cup final.

Despite that, the news of Alaba’s imminent return will be met with great joy at Real Madrid, who have had problems aplenty with injuries this season.

With Eder Militao also out with an ACL issue, Ancelotti has been playing Aurelien Tchouameni at centre-back alongside Antonio Rudiger, with young Raul Asencio providing cover.

Alaba’s impending return, thus, should provide the Real Madrid boss with added options at the heart of the defence.