Xabi Alonso has said he "wants to be optimistic" on an early return from injury for Jude Bellingham , after the Real Madrid midfielder returned to training ahead of schedule this week.

Bellingham, 22, underwent shoulder surgery in July -- after Madrid were eliminated from the Club World Cup -- and was expected to be out of action for between 10 and 12 weeks , placing his likely return in early October.

However, the England international took some part in training with teammates at Valdebebas this week, putting him in contention to be back on the field sooner than that, with a derby against Atlético Madrid coming up on Sept. 27.

"I want to be a bit optimistic, and hope that [Bellingham] can be back before October," Alonso told a news conference on Friday ahead of Madrid's g

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