Real Madrid suffered a major injury setback on Thursday with the loss of striker Alvaro Morata to a hamstring problem with the vital football derbies against local rivals Atletico and traditional foes FC Barcelona just around the corner.
The club has confirmed Morata suffered a torn hamstring while playing for Spain against England on Tuesday night and that he could be out of action for up to a month, reports Xinhua.
The official Real Madrid website said the striker has a "grade 2" muscle tear, that means he will miss Saturday's Atletico match as well as the vital Champions League trip to face Portugal's Sporting Lisbon the following week.
Real Madrid then play Sporting Gijon in La Liga and have the return of their King's Cup tie against Cultural Leon before the trip to Barcelona on December 3.
Morata has been in fine form since returning to Madrid from Italy's Juventus this season, scoring eight goals.
His injury comes with the club also suffering the loss of midfielder Tony Kroos with a broken bone in his foot, while regulars Pepe, Benzema and Casemiro are all doubts for the Atletico game.
--IANS
sam/bg
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