Real Madrid left-back Marcelo hopes to recover from his dislocated shoulder in time for the Champions League first leg against Roma.
Marcelo suffered the injury on Sunday at Granada and was ruled out for around three weeks, meaning he would miss the resumption of European competition.
But Marca reports that despite the diagnosis the Brazilian is aiming to be back in around half that time, with Roma on February 17 his objective.
Marcelo is willing to play through whatever pain still remains at that point in order to be available to Zinedine Zidane, the Madrid Coach whose squad doesn’t contain another natural left-back.
The defender has already removed the sling on his right arm and started his rehabilitation with work in the gym and the pool at Madrid’s training complex, Valdebebas.
He has also undergone ultrasound therapy and a bout of phyiotherapy on the joint and reported no problems after the session.
Madrid have however ruled out giving Marcelo a pain-killing injection ahead of the game with the Italians after the experience of doing likewise with Sergio Ramos at the start of the season.
The club feel that would be a short-term decision as while it would make Marcelo available for this one game, in the long run it would only delay his full recovery – bread today, hunger tomorrow, as Marca puts it.
Ramos’ dislocated shoulder needed 19 days before he was back playing and while Marcelo’s injury isn’t considered as serious as the captain’s, time isn’t on his side for the game at the Olimpico.