Jese Rodriguez may make his long-awaited first team comeback against Cornella in the Copa del Rey this week, boss Carlo Ancelotti has revealed.
The youngster has been missing for eight months now, recovering from a serious knee injury picked up in the Charmpions League quarter-finals in March. Prior to his injury, he had been an sensational form when filling in for any of the front three at the Santiago Bernabeu and was even being talked about as a potential call-up for the Spanish World Cup squad.
Jese has been training with the first team for a number of weeks now and has been closely monitored by the fitness staff at the club who are waiting to give him the green light to play again.
When asked if the 21-year-old will be able to make his comeback this week, Ancelotti said it is possible.
“We are assessing the situation. It depends whether he feels comfortable. In training he has shown that he can play. He may not start, however I might give him a run out or he might need another week. It depends how he gets on over the next few days,” he stated.
Jese tore his cruciate ligament in the second minute of Real’s match against Schalke. His recovery was slowed after an infection developed and he had to go to Germany for an operation.
