McManaman facing two to three weeks out with back injury

A painful back injury could keep Real Madrid's Steve McManaman out until the New Year, the player revealed on Monday.

McManaman, who suffered the injury in Real's King's Cup win over Lanzarote last week, missed Saturday's 2-1 victory at home to Osasuna and was left out of the squad to face Panathinaikos in the Champions League on Tuesday.

"I'm still in a lot of pain," McManaman said on Monday. "I should be back with the team in two or three weeks."

The injury leaves the England midfielder in a race against time with Real playing their last game before a two-week Christmas break on December 23 at Real Mallorca.