Pavon ready to take centre stage in Real defence

Given the surfeit of star players in the Real Madrid squad it is a little surprising that the centre of attention prior to the club's Champions League match against Anderlecht is the little known Francisco Pavon.

It says much for the disappointing form of the defending Spanish champions that the former reserve team player has grabbed the headlines in the Madrid-based sporting press for his accomplished performances at the heart of the Real defence.

With Aitor Karanka picking up an injury in Saturday's goalless draw at Alaves and Ivan Campo still recovering from his recent anxiety attack, the 21-year-old is set to join the ultra experienced Fernando Hierro in the middle of the back four.

If he does turn out against Anderlecht, Pavon will have played in three different competitions with the first team in the space of just a week.

Last Wednesday he was part of the team that cruised to a 4-0 win over third division Playas Jandia in the King's Cup, and on Saturday he produced an accomplished performance as he stepped in to replace the injured Karanka in the league match at Alaves.

"The truth is I am really happy with the way things are working out," the player was quoted as saying by sports daily Marca on Monday.

"It is great to be playing with the first team and to be in with a chance of playing in Belgium," he added. "I have got to make the most of every opportunity I get and do everything I can to help the team."

The stringy central defender, who has helped Real's leaky defence keep a clean sheet in the last three games in which he has played a part, claims that despite his recent success he is still very much an apprentice.

"I just set out to do my best and learn from everyone else in the team, especially Hierro and Karanka, who have given me plenty of useful advice on defensive tactics."

And he should be able to put that advice into practice as Real look to the Champions League for some respite after their deeply disappointing start to their Spanish title defence.

In Europe, they have cruised to the top of their Champions League group with three wins out of three, scoring 10 goals and conceding just two.

On the domestic front, however, they are languishing in 16th place in the standings with just two victories in eight games and have yet to win away from home.

And in spite of their 4-1 win over Anderlecht at the Bernabeu, Pavon spoke like a veteran when he warned that the Belgians would be not make for easy opponents on their home territory.

"I have watched Anderlecht on television and they are a much tougher team than they showed at the Bernabeu. In their stadium they are sure to make things very difficult for us," he said.