Koke (hamstring) has been ruled out for Saturday's La Liga clash against Espanyol after medical tests confirmed an injury to the biceps femoris muscle in his left thigh, according to the club.
Analysis:Koke faces another spell on the sidelines after recently missing Atletico Madrid's Champions League encounter against Manchester United due to personal reasons. The captain had resumed individual training following a family bereavement but is now dealing with a confirmed muscular injury that will delay his return to competitive action. His recovery will determine when he can rejoin team training, leaving Atletico short of an experienced option in central midfield. Morten Hjulmand and Pablo Barrios remain leading candidates to feature in his absence, while Marcos Llorente could also provide cover centrally.
