Spanish champions Real Madrid are worried about a calf muscle injury suffered by Dutch striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy during national team duty on Saturday.

Medical examinations by Real doctors were set for later on Monday amid fears that the injury could be similar to one he sustained last June and kept him out of action for two months.

Last season's Liga top scorer suffered a pulled calf muscle towards the end of the Netherland's 1-0 win over Luxembourg in a Euro 2008 qualifier Saturday and flew back to Madrid on Sunday.

It was the latest in a long series of injuries suffered by Spanish league players while on national team duty, and will strengthen the arguments of Barcelona president Joan Laporta for the national federations to compensate the clubs for calling up their stars.

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