Real Madrid are confident that summer signing Jonathan Woodgate's first game for the club will be worth the wait. The ex-Newcastle defender had been on the verge of his Real debut before discovering that a torn thigh muscle may rule him out until Christmas.
But Real sporting director Emilio Butragueno told BBC Sport: "He's a player for the team - both for now and the future - and is worth waiting for.
"In our opinion, he's one of the best players in that position in the world."
Woodgate's career has been littered with injury problems.
He played only 37 games out of a possible 128 at former club Newcastle before his �13.4m move to La Liga.
As a result, Real have been criticised for spending so much on such an injury-prone player.
But Butragueno said the latest setback - a torn thigh muscle - was "just one of those things in football".
He added: "Saying we were wrong to buy an injured player is wrong. He was about to debut for the club in the Real Betis game last Saturday and then this happened. It's just the way.
"The important thing is for him to recover as soon as possible."
Real's medical team are "optimistic" that Woodgate will return soon but Butragueno added that there was no hurry.
"We hope he's going to come back very soon," said the former Spanish international striker. "We have to await further news on a daily basis."
Woodgate could yet be forced to undergo keyhole surgery on his knee, although his new employers are hopeful that such a step can be avoided.
Either way, insisted Butragueno, the club were content to wait.
"He may not be as well-known globally as other players at Real but having seen him in training we are very excited about him playing.
"His return would be a massive boost. He has been so professional and has settled so well at Real. It is like he has always belonged here.
"And we are confident, as he is, that this is a great opportunity for him to show he may be one of the best defenders in the world."
MMIX
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It's like he's always belonged at Real 