Argentine Trio Return To Madrid Training

Gabriel Heinze, Fernando Gago and Javier Saviola all played some part in Madrid's training session on Monday as they search for a return to full fitness in time for the next La Liga outing.

Numbers were severely limited as Madrid coach Bernd Schuster took training on Monday morning, with a number of players away on midweek international duty and a few players still out through injury.

Schuster only had Salgado, Guti, Raúl, Diarra, Balboa, Soldado and the goalkeepers Codina and Dudek from the first-team squad available to take part in the whole session, so reserve team players Villafañe, Giraldez and Krzystof were also drafted in.

Madrid had Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Sneijder, Higuaín, Robinho, Baptista and Marcelo away on full international duty and Torres and Drenthe called up to their respective U-21 teams.

In addition, Van Nistelrooy, Pepe and Metzelder were all injured and consigned to rehabilitation work and Robben was absent due to suffering from a fever.

The good news for Schuster was that Heinze, Gago and Saviola had all progressed sufficiently on their returns from injury to take to the field for parts of the training session.

Heinze has recovered from his left-thigh injury and Gago from his hamstring strain, with both players looking likely to be included in Schuster's squad for their La Liga tie with Valladolid on Sunday.

Saviola also returned, but is not thought to be in consideration for the squad as he is further away from full fitness than his compatriots.