Real Madrid -striker Kylian Mbappe did not travel to Charlotte for the World Cup match of the team against Pachuca, but could be back for the last group phase match match, said coach Xabi Alonso on Saturday.
The French superstar was brought to the hospital on Thursday for tests and treatment after the suffering of gastroenteritis, before he was released later.
Mbappe improves “bit by bit” to a club source told AFP, but he did not fly with his teammates for Sunday's game against Mexican side Pachuca.
Real coach Xabi Alonso appealed to the state of the striker during his press conference before the game.
“He does better, he is back from the hospital and recovers. We are optimistic about having him against Salzburg,” he said.
Madrid is opposed to Salzburg in the last game of Group H on Thursday in Philadelphia.
The 26-year-old missed the opening match with the same disease as Madrid was held 1-1 by Al-Hilal in the debut of Xabi Alonso as a coach.
Madrid B team player Gonzalo Garcia, 21, started instead of Mbappe and opened the score for Real Madrid against their Saudi-Arab opponents.
Alonso indicated that Gonzalo would again replace the Frenchman.
“Gonzalo can do what he did recently. He scored a goal and had three chances. Looking ahead we will see what is happening. Players with that smell is very important. He did very well,” he said.
Mbappe finished as the European Golden Shoe winner in his first season in Real Madrid with 31 goals in La Liga and 43 in all competitions, but Los Blancos ended the season without a big trophy.