Butragueno backing for Real Madrid's Woodgate

Real Madrid vice-president Emilio Butragueno insists defender Jon Woodgate will come good.
 
Woodgate has been plagued by various fitness problems during his time with Real and only made his debut in August 2005 - 16 months after joining the club from Newcastle for £13.4million.

This season, the England defender has played in only six Primera Liga games and two Champions League matches.

He lasted the full 90 minutes against Villarreal on January 8 but he has since been sidelined with a muscle strain in his left leg.

However, Butragueno, a former striker at the club and a former Spain international, is keeping faith with the 25-year-old, telling Real's official website: "We have to be patient with him."

"He will help us in the most critical of times. He should apply my philosophy of life, which is calmness."