Carlo Ancelotti will have to think outside the box at right-back after Real Madrid learned the grim extent of captain Dani Carvajal's knee injury.
Carvajal was substituted during Madrid's 2-0 win over Villarreal on Saturday and the reigning Spanish and European champions had their worst fears confirmed after the 32-year-old was assessed.
A club statement read: "Following tests carried out on our player Dani Carvajal by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament, a rupture of the external collateral ligament and a rupture of the popliteus tendon in his right leg. He will undergo surgery in the coming days."
MORE: All the latest soccer news | Real Madrid news | Explaining how 'socios' own Real Madrid
Such extensive damage means Carvajal is almost certainly out for the rest of this season and it leaves Ancelotti's defensive reserves further depleted.
Carvajal joining David Alaba as a long-term absentee means the Italian has only six senior defenders. A La Liga title defence, a bid for a 16th UEFA Champions League and next year's expanded FIFA Club World Cup makes it understandable that Ancelotti suggested a mid-season delve into the January transfer market. But what will he do in the meantime?
Who will replace Dani Carvajal for Real Madrid?
Lucas Vazquez
A winger by trade, Vazquez has been successfully redeployed over recent seasons as right-back cover. The pre-season arrivals of Kylian Mbappe and Endrick, along with Arda Guler's emergence already meant Vazquez's days of getting a shot in the front three were all but over. At least for now, he will be Ancelotti's first choice.
Federico Valverde
Ancelotti's remodelling of his post-Toni Kroos midfield has had some teething problems, most notably during last week's 1-0 UEFA Champions League defeat at Lille. Valverde might yet be a key part of that solution but the Uruguay international's boundless energy and versatility makes him a viable alternative on the left-hand side of defence.
Jesus Vallejo
Vallejo has only played 10 minutes in La Liga since his loan return from Granada and is below midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni in the pecking order in his specialist position of centre-back. Nevertheless, these are testing times at the Santiago Bernabeu and Vallejo has played at right-back a handful of times in his career. He might be the best fit in certain situations as a more natural defender than either Vazquez or Valverde.
