Luka Modric
Luka Modric is yet to play since the game against Dortmund on 27 September Getty

KEY POINTS

  • Croatian national team boss Ante Cacic hopes to have him ready for the crucial World Cup qualifier.
  • Croatian underwent a surgery in his knee earlier on October.
  • Spanish reports claimed he had targeted Atletico Madrid on 19 November match for his comeback.

Real Madrid star Luka Modric is expected to return from injury in time for the forthcoming internationals of November. Croatian national team boss Ante Cacic has revealed the midfielder is making good progress in his recovery and should be fit to play the crucial World Cup qualifier against Islandia on 12 November.

The 31-year-old star was forced to undergo surgery on his left knee in order to extract a fragment of damaged patellar cartilage earlier this month and is yet to play since the Champions League draw against Borussia Dortmund on 27 September. The former Tottenham star was unable to defend his country in the previous internationals earlier in October and has missed the last five Real Madrid games.

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Reports in Spain since the surgery had claimed that Modric was set to be on the sidelines for one to two months, expecting to return to action in the crucial Madrid derby against Atletico Madrid on 19 November, which is the Real Madrid first game after the international break.

However, Cacic has now revealed the return could come before as he expects Modric to be ready for the crucial World Cup qualifier against Islandia on 12 November –Croatia are now sharing the top of the group I with the islanders.

"I think that Modric will play against Iceland! He has started to run and next week should begin to work with the ball, so I really believe he will be ready for the clash with the Icelanders," the Croatian manager told Sporstke Novosti.

Modric failed to set a deadline for his return to action last week when giving a press conference to announce a new deal to remain at Real Madrid until 2020, but admitted the rehabilitation was going well.

"I feel good. Every day I feel better. I'm working a lot and hard to get back as soon as possible," Modric said then. "I take each day as it comes and hope to return soon. I feel better, but I cannot say when I will be available again. It is a compliment that they say that my absence from the team has been noted, but I prefer that others say things like that. It gives me the confidence to work harder."

Yet, on Monday, Real Madrid revealed the midfielder was inching closer to recovery after starting to work with the ball for the first time since suffering injury.

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