Mbappe 'better' but will miss game against Pachuca

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Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso says striker Kylian Mbappe is "better" after an illness and, while he will miss his side's Fifa Club World Cup match against Pachuca on Sunday, he could return for their final group game.

Mbappe was absent from training on Tuesday with a fever and missed his side's 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal in Miami on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old was admitted to hospital with what Real described as an "acute case of gastroenteritis" before being released on Thursday and returning to the La Liga club's training complex in Palm Beach.

He has not travelled with his team-mates for Real Madrid's games against Mexican side Pachuca on Sunday at 20:00 BST but could make his first appearance at the tournament when his side face Red Bull Salzburg on Friday at 02:00 BST.

"He's better," said Alonso, who took over from Carlo Ancelotti in May. "It's been two days since he came back from hospital.

"He's recovering, and day by day we're increasingly optimistic about him for the next match."

Mbappe joined Real Madrid on a free transfer from Paris St-Germain last summer and scored 43 goals in 56 games in all competitions in his first season for the Bernabeu club.

He won the European Golden Shoe, although Real missed out on winning La Liga, the Champions League and Copa del Rey.