Luka Modric aims to return before the end of the season

Luka Modric says his aim is to return to action before the end of the season. The Real Madrid midfielder suffered a knee injury in Saturday's Liga match against Malaga and is expected to be be sidelined for up to six weeks. The news is a blow to the player and the club, with the Croatian only returning from a four-month lay-off recently. The injury will see him miss Madrid's crucial Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday as well as the majority of the title run-in. The former Tottenham Hotspur man is staying positive, however, and is determined to pull on the white shirt again before the end of the campaign. "It was really painful; I knew immediately that something had happened," he told Croatian daily Sportske Novosti in quotes translated by AS. "I'm sad to have got injured again but I have to keep my head up. My goal now is to be recovered before the end of the season. Maybe I can get back to fitness and play a few league games. I’m going to try with all of my strength." Madrid will hope they can call on Modric with the title still up for grabs next month and with a place in the final of the Champions League in Berlin.