Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has downplayed fears Xabi Alonso will be out for a while after picking up an injury against Equatorial Guinea.
Just 24 hours after Sami Khedira was seriously injured in a friendly against Italy, Real Madrid fans would have been fearing the worst when Alonso was replaced just before half time having picked up an ankle injury.
But speaking to journalists after the narrow 2-1 for the World Cup holders, del Bosque said Alonso’s removal was just a precaution, and the 31-year-old will not be out of action for a while.
“It’s nothing serious, just a knock… Xabi was brought off just as a precaution,” he said.
Los Blancos will be without Khedira for the rest of the season after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament on Friday evening. Him and Alonso have formed a superb partnership in midfield this season for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, so missing the Spaniard for any lengthy spell would have been a massive blow.
Alonso has only recently returned to the side following five months out through injury. He missed the Confederations Cup in Brazil in the summer with a groin problem. He was due to be fit for the start of the campaign but just before the opening match against Real Betis, he broke a toe in training and was out for the next two months.
