Woodgate hoping for January return

Real Madrid defender Jonathan Woodgate is hoping to end an eight-month injury layoff by making his long-awaited debut for the Primera Liga side in January.

"I feel a lot better and with every day that goes by I improve a bit more," the England international was quoted as saying on Real's website on Monday.

"I just hope my luck changes in the New Year and that I will be able to make my debut at last. I hope that I'll be fully recovered in January or February and be able to train at the same rhythm as the rest of the team."

The 24-year-old, who joined Real for 20 million euros from Newcastle United at the start of the season, has not played since tearing a thigh muscle in a Premier League match against Chelsea in April.

He was poised to make his Real debut in early October but suffered a recurrence of the injury during a training session and flew to the United States for specialist advice.

"I'm working hard every day so that I can recover as soon as possible," he said. "I can't wait to join up with the rest of the team although I'm sure it won't be long before I can do that."

Real host Sevilla at the Bernabeu on Wednesday and then have a short break before resuming training at the end of December.