US treatment for Woodgate

JONATHAN WOODGATE is to receive treatment on his long-standing thigh injury in Cleveland, Ohio, after Real Madrid’s doctor Alfonso del Corral claimed he had warned the club they were taking a risk in signing the defender.

The £13.4m summer signing will travel to America in the next few days to be examined at the Cleveland Clinic Centre.

Woodgate broke down in training on Thursday with a recurrence of the thigh injury that has kept him out of action since April.

“He may be able to avoid surgery thanks to new muscle regeneration techniques,” said a Real spokesman.