Konate to miss Villarreal with knee injury, leaving Real only Rudiger

📰 With Ibrahima Konaté set to miss the Villarreal game on the 10th with a knee injury, Rüdiger is Real Madrid's only remaining senior centre-back. 📌 Key points 🩹 Konaté injured his right knee in France training 🏥 The club announced a collateral ligament injury to his right knee 🟥 Huijsen is suspended after his red card against Atlético 🔁 Using Tchouaméni at centre-back is the most likely solution 🗓️ Konaté is expected back for El Clásico later this month 📝 What happened 🩹 Konaté was unable to finish a France training session in late September and was left out of Zidane's first squad. Manchester United's Leny Yoro was called up as his replacement. Real Madrid said tests revealed a collateral ligament injury to his right knee, while the French Football Federation described it as a minor sprain. ⏳ At first there were suggestions he could return after the break. But Marca reported that Konaté will not recover in time for the Villarreal game on 10 October. He is rehabilitating with the club's medical staff at Valdebebas. 🟥 On top of that, Dean Huijsen is suspended after being sent off against Atlético Madrid, leaving Antonio Rüdiger as the only first-choice centre-back available. The absence of Konaté, signed from Liverpool this summer, is being felt more than expected. 🔁 Locally, the most likely option is seen as Mourinho pairing midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni alongside Rüdiger. Dumfries, Carreras and Juan Martínez of Castilla (the reserve side) have also been mentioned as candidates. 📊 By the numbers • First-choice centre-backs available: 1 (Rüdiger) • Villarreal game: 10 October • Konaté's target return: El Clásico at the end of October 🔭 Why it matters Villarreal are a tough first opponent straight after the break. For Mourinho, forced to make do with a makeshift back line, the game is a test of his side's defensive organisation. Whether Konaté can return in time for El Clásico is another point of interest.