21:57h CET

We're three months into the 2017/18 season, and there can be no getting away from it: a number of Real Madrid players are currently miles short of their best.

Which makes it all the more surprising that Zinedine Zidane is so reluctant to give more minutes to midfielder Dani Ceballos, who's in very good form. In the little action that he's seen at Real, Ceballos has shone; and he's been tearing it up every time he's appeared for Spain Under-21s, too.

Full screen Ceballos (second left) looks on from the bench during Real Madrid's Champions League win at APOEL on Tuesday. JAVIER GANDUL (DIARIO AS)

Zidane is known for the fairness of his selection, yet with Ceballos...

Zidane has shown in the past that he has no qualms about shaking things up and throwing in youngsters if they knock on the door hard enough, so his decision to relegate Ceballos to the fringes is puzzling in the extreme.

With a good few of his regulars looking so sluggish and below par, the moment has come for Zidane to give the 21-year-old the chance that his efforts and talent deserve. After all, this is the same coach who, ever since his appointment, has won over the group with the fairness of his selection policy.

It's time to give Ceballos a go.