Zidane gives injury updates on Modric, Bale and Keylor Navas ahead of Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid

Zinedine Zidane has confirmed that Luka Modric and Dani Carvajal will be fully fit to feature when Real Madrid try to close the gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona by winning the highly-awaited derby at Atletico Madrid on Saturday night [18 November].

The France boss also provided a positive update on the recovery of Gareth Bale and Keylor Navas but the highly-awaited derby will still come too soon for both players.

Modric set alarms bells ringing at Real on Thursday [16 November] after being unable to train with the rest of his teammates.

Meanwhile, Carvajal has been out of action since the 3-1 Champions League victory over Borussia Dortmund on 26 September due to pericarditis.

However, both completed Friday's [17 November] training session without any problems and will be ready to feature at the new Wanda Metropolitano stadium if called upon by Zidane.

"They're both ready. Luka was off colour yesterday but he's fine. Dani has been ready for a while now. He didn't go away with the national team because it was better for him to keep working here," Zidane confirmed in the press conference ahead of the first Madrid derby Atletico's new home.

Bale and Navas were also expected to make the most of the international break to step up their recoveries from respective injuries in order to be back to face Atletico.

However, on Friday 10 November Real said the Wales international had suffered a fresh setback in his recovery during a training session and would be out for an extended period.

Reports in Spain suggested that the former Tottenham star could be out of action for another month but Zidane has indicated that Bale will be back much sooner than that.

"I'm frustrated because Bale wants to help the team. That's the most annoying thing. I don't think it's anything serious. I think he'll be out for three or four days and he'll be back fit. I'm sure he'll come back stronger than ever and I hope he'll be 100% next week and fit for the rest of the season," Zidane added.

Meanwhile, Zidane claimed that Navas is also closing in on his return to action but the Real number one will not be ready to face Atletico, with the 'keeper having been on the sidelines since suffering a muscle injury during the Champions League draw against Tottenham Hotspur on 17 October.

"He's back out on the pitch and he's getting better every day. I can't tell you when he'll be back playing. He's already training a bit. I want Keylor at 150% and we'll take it day by day," the Real Madrid boss added.

Mateo Kovacic could also be in contention to make the squad after returning to training earlier in the week while Zidane's son Luca remain on the sidelines.

Zidane believes that Los Blancos squad will still be strong enough to secure the three points against Atletico and keep alive their hopes of retaining the La Liga title, with Real already trailing early leaders Barcelona by eight points.

"The team looks good. We're missing a few players, but we'll start getting people back slowly. We're heading into the derby in good shape. We know how important this game is, as always. For people on the outside it's a special match, but for me it's three points and we're going to try and win it. We need to play at full throttle for 90 minutes," the boss added.

"Life isn't about successes and failures. The important thing is how we're working. If we give it our all on the pitch, we'll get a good result. We're trailing Barcelona, I'm aware of that, but there's time to catch and overtake them. We can do things better and that's what we'll try to do. We're going to improve, that's what we're working towards and the players are ready and fully focused. Everything will work out fine."

Real will begin the derby 11 points behind the Catalans in the table if Barcelona beat Leganes in the corresponding fixture to be played at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque earlier in the day.

But Zidane would ideally like their Madrid neighbours to to do them a favour by beating Barcelona and insists that Los Blancos should only be focused on their own game.

"Yes, of course [I want Legane to beat Barcelona] but nothing will change if Barcelona win it," Zidane said. "They're playing before us, but we know we have to put in a good performance and play at full throttle for the 90 minutes."