By Ben Dirs

Woodgate suffers another blow in his battle against injury

Jonathan Woodgate will miss the rest of Real Madrid's season because of injury, BBC Sport has learned.

But Madrid have denied reports Woodgate, 25, needs further surgery on his ruptured tendon or torn thigh.

The England international defender has not played for Madrid since joining the Spanish giants from Newcastle for �13.4m in August 2004.

"Woodgate is out for the season but he will not need another operation," said a Real Madrid spokeswoman.

"He recently just went for his regular monthly check-up, and the only thing the doctor said to us was that nothing new came out of that," she added.

What were the Real Madrid medical staff doing in agreeing to sign Woodgate when they knew he had a bad injury? From DV Have your say on 606

Woodgate, who suffered the injury last April, appeared ready to make his Madrid debut last October but then suffered a recurrence.

Madrid's medical officers reportedly came under pressure from club president Florentino Perez to rush Woodgate back to fitness.

And some reports suggest the injury is more serious than originally diagnosed and could jeopardise the defender's career.