Reals James back for Club World Cup final

17 December 2014 02:16

Colombian World Cup star James Rodriguez has shaken off a calf injury and is back in full training for Real Madrid ahead of Saturday's Club World Cup final.

Rodriguez missed Tuesday's 4-0 destruction of Mexico's Cruz Azul after picking up the injury in a league match December 6, but went through a full work out Wednesday morning.

Until now the 23-year-old who shot to global fame during the 2014 World Cup with six goals and two assists in five matches, had been limited to training alone in Morocco.

Real's Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti had said as early as Monday he was counting on Rodriguez, who joined Madrid for 80 million Euros (100 million dollars) from AS Monaco after the World Cup, would be ready for Saturday's final.

Another man back in full training is fellow midfielder Sami Khedira, who actually played the last 15 minutes of the semi-final cruise past the Mexicans.

Sergio Ramos however sat out training after a slight knock Tuesday saw him substituted, but Ancelotti was confident his central defensive lynchpin would be back by Saturday.

"There's nothing to worry about, he just needs two days rest and he'll be able to play," said Ancelotti.

Madrid will take on either Auckland City of New Zealand or San Lorenzo of Argentina in the final.

Source: AFP