Mbappe avoids season-ending knee injury after taking decisive action

Kylian Mbappe has avoided a potentially season-ending knee injury after stopping play immediately when he felt pain while representing France, according to a report in AS.

The Real Madrid forward returned from France’s training camp with a hyperextension of the posterior capsule in his left knee. The injury is not considered serious, and he is expected to be sidelined for between 10 and 12 days.

However, medical tests indicated that continuing to play could have exposed Mbappe to a significant risk of a much more serious injury, one that might have ended his season.

Mbappe felt pain after scoring in France’s match against Turkey last Friday and made the decision to come off. That proved crucial in preventing the problem from developing into something far worse.

After his condition stabilised, Mbappe began working on his recovery at Valdebebas on Monday and is due to continue rehabilitation on Tuesday. His progress is described as positive, although Real Madrid are expected to manage his return carefully.

The Spanish club remained in direct and immediate contact with the medical staff of the French Football Federation after the injury occurred. There were concerns that surgery might eventually be required, but it has now been confirmed that an operation will not be necessary.

That outcome has been welcomed by Real Madrid, although the club will take no risks with the France international, who suffered a knee injury last season that eventually kept him out until he received treatment from renowned specialist Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet. Mbappe subsequently made a full recovery.

When could Mbappe return?

Based on the projected recovery period, Mbappe should be available to return to competitive action against Villarreal at Santiago Bernabeu on 10 October.

That date remains dependent on how he responds to treatment, however, and the consequences of bringing him back into the team will also be considered by Jose Mourinho.

A demanding run of fixtures awaits Real Madrid if Mbappe recovers as expected. The club are due to travel to face Roma on 14 October before playing the Clasico away against Barcelona at Camp Nou on 25 October. The timing of Mbappe’s comeback will therefore be particularly important.

Real Madrid consider attacking alternatives

Real Madrid’s coaching staff have several options if they decide Mbappe should be rested. Mourinho has four different ways to reorganise the attack, with the most straightforward being to maintain the current structure and select Espe in place of the French forward.

The Portuguese manager also views the Under-21 international as a powerful attacking option who could be used to unsettle defences if a match fails to develop as expected.

Another possibility is to use Bellingham as a false nine, a role that recalls the early part of his time under Ancelotti. If Real Madrid’s leading scorer is unavailable, the Englishman would operate in that position, with Guler behind him and the Turkish player starting alongside Diomande on the right wing.

Mourinho could alter the formation, although that is considered unlikely. Everything depends on the decision over Mbappe, with Real Madrid determined not to rush him back and risk a repeat of last season’s problems.