Higuaín A Doubt For Villarreal Clash

Gonzalo Higuaín is a serious doubt for Real Madrid's clash with Villarreal this weekend, after he picked up tonsillitis and has had to miss training today.

Real Madrid might have finished 2008 on a high after beating Valencia, but they face a tough test to start the new year, as Villareal travel to the Spanish capital.

El Submarino Amarillo currently sit just one place below Real Madrid, in sixth, and there is no doubt they are still challengers for the top four.

The latest news coming out of the Real Madrid camp will please them no end too, with Higuaín looking like he could miss the match.

The Argentine is the top scorer for Los Blancos this season, but he is currently suffering from tonsillitis, and has had to miss training today, according to Marca.

Bearing in mind the rest of the injury worries at the club, coach Juande Ramos is unlikely to want him coming back and infecting anyone else, so he will probably rest for a while and not train.

He has also not been able to undertake any physical training properly, so his chances of making the game look very slim.

Ramos will be able to welcome back a few players who missed the end of the year though, and Christoph Metzelder might even play, despite the fact he broke his nose against Valencia.

Real Madrid currently sit twelve points off the leaders Barcelona in La Liga, but are at least one of the few Primera sides who won't have to worry about the Copa Del Rey when they return, as they were knocked out last round.