Morata faces a month on the sidelines

Real Madrid have announced on their official website that Alvaro Morata will sit out the next month after pulling a muscle in Spain's friendly against England.

In other words, it means he will not be available for this weekend's must-win Madrid derby.

"After tests carried out on our player Alvaro Morata at the Sanitas La Moraleja University Hospital prior to the training session held today, Wednesday, he has been diagnosed with a grade two muscle injury in his right hamstring," the official statement read. "His recovery will continue to be assessed."

With serious question marks over the fitness of Karim Benzema, this will no doubt be a major blow to Zinedine Zidane's plans.

Real Madrid are said to be fuming with the Spanish Football Federation because Morata was substituted in the World Cup qualifier against Macedonia with the problem and was the involved three days later in the friendly against England.