Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has confirmed he is “fully fit” for Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
The 32-year-old has been out of action since featuring in the first leg of Belgium’s UEFA Nations League playoff against Ukraine.
Courtois has been forced to miss Real Madrid’s last three competitive matches due to injury, including Saturday’s surprise 2-1 home defeat against Valencia.
However, there was positive news on Sunday when Real Madrid included Courtois in their travelling party for Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Arsenal.
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Courtois provides fitness update
The man himself has now confirmed he has fully recovered from his injury, insisting he is ready for the crucial European clash.
“I am fully fit,” Courtois told the media in Monday’s pre-match press conference. “If I am going to start or not, you have to ask the manager!
“But I am fit and I feel good. It was not a big issue, so I could train in the gym and do my routines. I have been on the pitch for the last day, so I feel fine and 100%, and hopefully I am ready to help the team tomorrow.
“I had a couple of injuries at the start of the season, but I think maybe I came back too early. I have been training, training well, I am in good shape.
“This was just a niggle and we did not want to take any risks, so we decided I would rest at the weekend and not play on Saturday.”
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What about Lunin’s availability?
While Courtois is set to feature against Arsenal, his understudy, Andriy Lunin, has been left out of the squad due to a calf issue.
Lunin was on the bench for Saturday’s league outing, but he was not fit enough to play a role in the narrow defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu.
As a result, 19-year-old Fran Gonzalez was given the chance to make his senior debut after previously making 17 appearances for Real Madrid Castilla.
The youngster will be the second-choice option for Tuesday’s contest, while Sergio Mestre completes Real Madrid’s selection of goalkeepers for the trip to North London.
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