Real Madrid star Toni Kroos faces long spell out after suffering injury against Leganes

Real Madrid star Toni Kroos is set to be out of action for a while after suffering a "fracture-avulsion of the base of the fifth metatarsal in the right foot" during the 3-0 victory over Leganes on Sunday (6 November). Los Blancos have failed to put a timeframe on his recovery but the news is a massive blow for Zinedine Zidane ahead of the crucial coming fixtures, with a derby against Atletico Madrid on 19 November coming before the Champions League clash with Sporting Portugal and the La Liga visit to Barcelona on 3 December.

Kroos played the full 90 minutes during the Real Madrid victory over Leganes as Casemiro is still on the side-lines. However, it has now emerged that the German international suffered the serious injury during the game.

"After tests carried out today in Germany on Toni Kroos, he has been diagnosed with a fracture-avulsion of the base of the fifth metatarsal in the right foot. The injury was picked up in the last league game against Leganes. His recovery will continue to be monitored," Real Madrid have confirmed.

The club have failed to set a deadline for his return but both AS and Marca are suggesting he is surely ruled out for the games against Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. Yet, the publications claim that he will be out of action for at least one-and-a-half months while Marca believes that it could be even worse, setting his return to between two and three months.

Real Madrid is currently leading the La Liga table ahead of Barcelona but faces some crucial games after the international break, starting with a derby at the Vicente Calderon before the Champions League trip to Sporting on 22 November. Then they will have two more games against Sporting de Gijon (26 November) and Cultural Leonesa (30 November) before the first El Clasico of the season at Barcelona.

Kroos' absence is a big concern for Zidane ahead of those games after Modric only returned to action on the weekend following a long time on the sidelines. Yet, Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema, Casemiro and Pepe are making good progress in their respective recoveries and at least the first two should be back available for the visit to Atletico Madrid.

Zidane, speaking after the win over Leganes, suggested that Casemiro was also closing to return. "Casemiro is back out on the pitch, he's still only running, he hasn't done any ball work yet. The main thing is that he's back on the pitch, it's a matter of days. I'm happy to have Modric back. Then there's Ramos and Pepe, I hope we don't get any unwelcome surprises during the international matches," the Real Madrid boss said while being more coy on Benzema.

"There hasn't been a medical report because we have to wait 24 to 48 hours and tomorrow he will undergo tests to see what has happened with him," Zidane said when asked about the absence of his compatriot during the win over Leganes. "He had some inflammation and we had to wait for it to subside. He had a few issues but I hope that in the next few days he will get better."