Xabi Alonso has passed his first medical test on the road to recovering from the operation which he underwent on 22nd August, after fracturing the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot. On Friday, he was visited at Valdebebas by Mariano de Prado, one of the doctors who operated on him, and he passed the examination with flying colours.

The doctor confirmed that the incision from the operation has closed up and removed the cast which he was wearing.

If he continues to make good progress, given the initial signs from his successful first examination, the player is expected to be able to start running within just under a month. In four weeks' time he will be entering the final straight and could make his return to the pitch at the beginning of November.

Xabi will undergo a second examination and be given an X-ray to confirm that the fracture has healed. If that is confirmed, he will be given the go-ahead to enter the third and final phase of his recovery.