James Rodriguez close to Real Madrid return

James Rodriguez took further steps closer to a Real Madrid return on Wednesday as the Colombian joined his team-mates for a full training session.

The 23-year-old, signed from Monaco for £63million last summer, has been out with a fractured metatarsal since February and first returned to the training pitch earlier this month.

After taking part in some small-sided football tennis games on Tuesday, Rodriguez joined Wednesday's full session with the players left in Madrid for the two-week international break.

Carlo Ancelotti's team held a moment of silence ahead of the training session in memory of the victims of the French Alps plane crash before Rodriguez and Co were put through their paces.

Ancelotti will be hoping Rodriguez is available for Madrid's next La Liga fixture against Granada on April 5 as the Italian looks for a reaction from his team following the 2-1 defeat against Barcelona last Sunday.

Madrid's El Clasico defeat at the Nou Camp, their third defeat in their last four outings in all competitions, left them four points behind leaders Barca in second place and heaped pressure onto Ancelotti's team.

Credit: Ashley Clements/SportsMail