Cristiano Ronaldo back in Real Madrid training ahead of derby but Isco yet to re-join group

Cristiano Ronaldo returned to training on Tuesday morning (14 November) ahead of Saturday's trip to Atletico Madrid after the Real Madrid ace missed the Monday's workout due to unspecified reasons.

Right-back Achraf Hakimi was also back after helping Morocco to book a place at the 2018 World Cup with a 2-0 victory at Ivory Coast on Saturday [11 November].

However, Isco is yet to re-join the rest of his teammates following his injury scare while on international duty with Spain.

The Real midfielder had to be replaced by Marco Asensio during the second half of Spain's victory over Costa Rica following a heavy challenge by Kendall Watson.

Isco consequently withdrew from the squad ahead of the second friendly with Russia but manager Julen Lopetegui assured that he would be fine to face Atletico on weekend.

"It's a knock. It is a knock in the same area that he was hit at Girona. He already had some discomfort then. The feeling is that he was not going to be able to play against Russia but he will not have any problem to be in the next La Liga game [against Atletico Madrid] match," Lopetegui said to Cope. "We decided that the best thing was for him to recover with his team and that's why he withdrew."

Yet, both the Spaniard and Croatia international Luka Modric trained on their own during the Tuesday's workout.

"The team completed the second session of the week at Real Madrid City four days before the derby, which will be played at the Wanda Metropolitano (Saturday, 8:45pm CET). Still without players away on international duty, the Whites worked together with Real Madrid Castilla. Cristiano Ronaldo and Achraf joined the group which also included Benzema, Marcos Llorente, Carvajal, Theo, Lucas Vázquez and Casilla. Isco was out running alone on the grass and Modric worked inside the facility," a statement on the club website read.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid also confirmed that Gareth Bale, Luca Zidane, Mateo Kovacic and Keylor Navas remained on the sidelines.

"Ball work took centre stage in a session that saw Real Madrid carry out drills focussed on ball circulation, pressing, crossing and finishing, and games on a reduced sized pitch. Bale, Luca, Kovacic and Keylor Navas continue their recovery processes. The latter two ran alone out on the pitch," the La Liga giants added.

Recent reports in Spain suggested that Navas could be ready to return to action against Atletico.

However, his availability for the derby now looks uncertain with the 'keeper still been unable to train with the rest of his teammates only four days before the visit to the New Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.

Meanwhile, Bale, Luca and Kovacic will certainly missed the Madrid derby, with the former expected to remain on the sidelines for several weeks after suffering a fresh muscle injury during training.