Marcelo injury gives Mourinho selection headache

MADRID, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 30: Marcelo of Real Madrid CF reacts on the ground defeated after failing a strike during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and RC Deportivo La Coruna at Bernabeu on September 30, 2012 in Madrid, Spain.

Madrid, Oct 15 – Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has been left with a selection headache after Brazilian Marcelo joined fellow left-back Fabio Coentrao on the club’s injury list.

Marcelo faces three months on the sidelines after fracturing the fifth metatarsal in his right foot while training with the Brazilian national squad in the Polish city of Wroclaw, reports Xinhua.

The defender has already been booked on a flight back to Spain where he will begin his recovery under the supervision of Real Madrid’s medical staff, the Brazilian Football Confederation said Sunday.

“I will be back soon. There is a long way to go until the Confederations Cup in 2013 and I hope to be a part of it,” Marcelo said.

Coentrao is expected to miss a month after suffering a left adductor strain while playing for Portugal in its 0-1 World Cup qualifying loss to Russia Friday.

Mourinho has now been left without a specialist left-back in his squad with Michael Essien or Alvaro Arbeloa candidates to temporarily fill the role.