Real Madrid have announced their squad for the La Liga clash against Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabeu , with Eder Militao's return providing a major boost to Jose Mourinho's defensive options.
The Brazilian centre-back has been included after his long absence, giving Real Madrid additional defensive depth ahead of another demanding fixture.
His return comes at an important time for the coaching staff, with the team's schedule placing considerable demands on the available players.
However, Militao's inclusion does not necessarily mean he will immediately return to a full workload.
Real Madrid are expected to manage his minutes carefully as he works towards regaining match sharpness, with the priority being to avoid unnecessary risks during his return.
Indeed, Militao's availability is the headline development in Madrid's squad announcement.
However, the coaching staff will still need to assess his readiness before deciding how much involvement he can handle against Sevilla.
Meanwhile, Dean Huijsen has also returned to the squad after serving his suspension.
The defender missed out following his red card against Atletico Madrid but is now available again after completing the ban associated with the subsequent Villarreal fixture.
The most significant absence is Vinicius Jr., who will miss the Sevilla encounter after being sent off against Villarreal.
The Brazilian is set to begin serving a four-match suspension , ruling him out of the immediate fixture and creating a challenge for Mourinho as he considers his attacking options.
Without Vinicius, Real Madrid will need other players to provide penetration and creativity in the final third.
The manager has several attacking alternatives available, but replacing the Brazilian's direct running and individual threat will be an important consideration.
