Real Madrid Four players hope to be fit

Ramos recovery going even better than planned

The international break does not mean there will be a lack of activity at Real Madrid's Valdebebas training ground, injured players using the time to further their recovery with a view to being ready for the Madrid derby on November 19.

Fifteen players have all left to take part in various international fixtures around the world, although four have remained behind: Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema, Pepe and Casemiro.

The club's medical staff have set the quartet the tentative November 19 return date and in what will be the league leaders' first serious test of the campaign, there is hope that some of them will be fit and available as Real look to extend their uneaten run to 28 games in all competitions.

11 days Until the first derby of the season in the Estadio Vicente Calderon

Each injury is at a different stage and only one of the players, Ramos, has trained on the pitch so far.

Therefore, it will be difficult for all four to turn things around in the 11 days until the fixture at the Estadio Vicente Calderon.

At the other end of the spectrum from the captain is Casemiro who is still three weeks away from full fitness, although he is using any means necessary to shorten that time frame.

In the cases of Pepe and Benzema, both men are suffering from muscle injuries and their return dates depend primarily on the players' own feelings of readiness.

Nothing is being left to chance at Valdebebas, in any case, with intense physiotherapy sessions being combined with individual recovery plans.