Higuain calls for Real calm

Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain has called on his team-mates to remain calm in their goal of taking the La Liga title from Barcelona.

Los Blancos sit a point clear of Barca in the table after 10 games and the 23-year-old has urged his colleagues to stay grounded, despite their early form setting the pace to wrench the league trophy away from the Catalans for the first time since 2009.

“This is when we have to be more relaxed than ever. We are first as a result of our hard work, but there’s a long way to go. We have to continue with humility, perseverance and a cool head,” he said, according to Marca.

The Argentine, who has scored 10 La Liga goals this season, added that his return from a career-threatening back injury put his work into perspective.

“I am very grateful that I can continue with football, which is what I like. It was a very difficult injury, but now I feel great and am enjoying being part of the group again,” he said.

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Higuain undergoes back surgery

Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain will miss up to four months of football after undergoing successful surgery on a hernia in his back.

Higuain last played for Real on November 20 against Athletic Bilbao and recently travelled to Chicago for surgery on his back problem.

Dr Richard Fessler, who operated on the Argentine, said Higuain is able to move freely as he begins his recovery, which will see him stay in the United States for another week.

“He’ll be able to walk around immediately. He’ll be able to start stretching out in a week or so and start running in somewhere of a range of two to four weeks,” Dr Fessler said.

“I think he will be able to practice non-competitively in about two months. I would not expect competitive play for somewhere between three and four months.”

Real Madrid’s team doctor Carlos Diez urged fans to be patient and not to expect Higuain back in first-team action for some time.

“We’re going to go step by step. I think it’s important in this kind of surgery to be patient. In other words, we don’t want to move ahead in a way that will make us take a step back,” Dr Diez said.

“I think Dr Fessler was saying we had to go little by little. First he’ll go through a phase of walking and then we will see how that develops, then with progressive exercises. Then start running a little. Then with more progress we introduce him into the group dynamic.”

Wed 12 January, 2011

Higuain undergoes back surgery

Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain will miss up to four months of football after undergoing successful surgery on a hernia in his back.

Higuain last played for Real on November 20 against Athletic Bilbao and recently travelled to Chicago for surgery on his back problem.

Dr Richard Fessler, who operated on the Argentine, said Higuain is able to move freely as he begins his recovery, which will see him stay in the United States for another week.

“He’ll be able to walk around immediately. He’ll be able to start stretching out in a week or so and start running in somewhere of a range of two to four weeks,” Dr Fessler said.

“I think he will be able to practice non-competitively in about two months. I would not expect competitive play for somewhere between three and four months.”

Real Madrid’s team doctor Carlos Diez urged fans to be patient and not to expect Higuain back in first-team action for some time.

“We’re going to go step by step. I think it’s important in this kind of surgery to be patient. In other words, we don’t want to move ahead in a way that will make us take a step back,” Dr Diez said.

“I think Dr Fessler was saying we had to go little by little. First he’ll go through a phase of walking and then we will see how that develops, then with progressive exercises. Then start running a little. Then with more progress we introduce him into the group dynamic.”

Wed 12 January, 2011