Real squad cut down for Zaragoza clash

Vicente del Bosque will have eight first-team players missing when the squad travels to La Romareda for next Saturday's match against Zaragoza.

France chief Roger Lemerre has already picked Zinedine Zidane and Claude Makelele for a friendly against Australia, but the numbers have since dwindled with injuries to Flavio, Roberto Carlos, Savio and Iván Campo, while right-back Michel Salgado will be forced to serve a one-match ban for an accumulation of bookings.

Geremi Fotso will not be able to cover for Salgado as he will be with Cameroon for their friendly against Poland on Saturday.

On a brighter note Steve McManaman has not been called up for England's friendly against Sweden and will be available for the league match, and central defender Aitor Karanka could also play after overcoming a lengthy muscle tear injury.

Del Bosque may be forced to field a defence made up almost entirely of B team players - Francisco Pavón and Raúl Bravo have both impressed in their outings this term and they could be joined by Oscar Miñambres at right-back, who is one of the jewels of Real's youth set-up. Albert Celades could get another chance to make a name for himself, occupying the double pivot slot alongside Iván Helguera.