Helguera added to Real Madrid injury list

Spanish international Ivan Helguera, seen here at practice, became the latest Real Madrid casualty ahead of their Champions League group F match at Rosenborg on Tuesday

Spanish international Ivan Helguera became the latest Real Madrid casualty ahead of their Champions League group F match at Rosenborg on Tuesday.

The nine-times European Champions announced via the club website on Monday that Helguera, a goalscorer when Real thrashed Rosenborg 4-1 two weeks ago, had strained a muscle in his right hamstring during training in Norway.

Francisco Pavon is Helguera's likely replacement in the middle of the Real back four.

The club gave no indication about whether Helguera might be fit for Real's home match against Real Zaragoza on Sunday.

Helguera is just the latest name to be added to the list of injured Real players.

Real are still without the injured trio of Ronaldo, Julio Baptista and Zinedine Zidane, who have all targeted the Barcelona derby on November 19 as the date for their return.

David Beckham and Michel Salgado were both among Real's 19-man squad that travelled to Trondheim, the home city of the Norwegian champions, on Sunday but face late fitness tests.

David Beckham, seen here at practice, has had back and calf problems in recent weeks and, as a precaution, was rested for Real's 2-0 win in the Spanish first division at Real Betis on Saturday

Beckham has had back and calf problems in recent weeks and, as a precaution, was rested for Real's 2-0 win in the Spanish first division at Real Betis on Saturday.

However, the England captain is expected to play against Rosenborg and notch up his 100th Champions League outing.

He will become only the third man to reach such a milestone after Paulo Maldini and Raul Gonzalez.

"I feel very proud about this record I'm going to achieve. To start out in Europe's top club competition with Manchester United and play your 100th game with Real Madrid is a privilege," said the England captain on Monday.

However, the prognosis for Salgado is bleaker.

The Spanish international right back had an accidental clash of heads with Betis's Ricardo Oliveira seven minutes before the end of Saturday's match in Seville and suffered a hairline fracture of his left cheek bone.

"The evolution of the injury will determine whether he is fit to play," said a Real medical official.

The possibility of Salgado going into action wearing a protective face mask has been discarded by Real as there has not been enough time to construct a personalized one for the player.