Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane will have to cope without Isco for the next three weeks.
The Spaniard has suffered a hamstring injury that will keep him on the sidelines for a handful of matches in Real Madrid’s LaLiga Santander title push.
This is a serious problem for Zidane, who loses one of his six natural central midfielders, leaving him with Casemiro, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Fede Valverde and James Rodriguez.
Isco didn’t play against either Eibar or Valencia in Los Blancos’ first two games back and is expected to miss upcoming matches against Real Sociedad, Real Mallorca, Espanyol, Getafe, Athletic Club and Alaves.
That leaves him with just the last three fixtures – against Granada, Villarreal and Leganes – when he returns, plus the second leg of the Champions League last-16 tie with Manchester City.
Zidane knows Isco’s versatility will be difficult to replace. The Real Madrid’s boss has used two different systems, one with a midfield three and one with a midfield four, in the last two games.
Isco’s ability to play in different positions has seen him feature often during his time at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
The former Malaga playmaker has not always been a regular starter, yet he’s racked up over 50 appearances in two campaigns and over 40 in three.
Isco’s absence over the coming weeks changes the picture for Zidane.
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James’ role within the squad isn’t expected to change too much, even though Lucas Vazquez is also out injured.
The Colombian has never been in Zidane’s plans at Real Madrid, with the French coach now tasked with finding a way of relieving the workload put on Casemiro, Valverde, Kroos and Modric in Isco’s absence.