No op for crocked Woodgate
Real Madrid have claimed defender Jonathan Woodgate is unlikely to play again until next season, but the Spanish giants have denied reports he needs another operation.
The 25-year-old has been unable to make a first-team appearance since signing for Real from Newcastle before the start of this season.
Real say the England defender does not need further surgery on his long-term thigh problem, although his condition is being “maintained” rather than improved.
“He will not need another operation,” a club spokesperson said.
“There are reports in Spain and England about him needing another operation but we don’t know where these rumours have come from.
“He recently just went for his regular monthly check-up, and the only thing the doctor said to us was that nothing new came out of that.”
However when asked whether Woodgate was making progress, the spokesperson added: “The situation is the same. I would say it (his injury) is being maintained.”
That would appear to indicate that Woodgate is unlikely to pull on the Madrid shirt until next season.
Woodgate signed for Madrid last summer, and along with close season addition Walter Samuel, was expected to be part of a new, stubborn defence at the Bernabeu.
However he has had to watch from the sidelines as Real have made it through to the last 16 of the Champions League, and have rocketed to second place in the Primera Liga table under new coach Wanderley Luxemburgo.
