Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has sarcastically stated that their current injury crisis could see Gonzalo Higuain deployed as a makeshift left-back Mallorca on Sunday.

The 49-year-old has been forced to make do without key names in defence of late, with Marcelo and Fabio Coentrao both struggling with foot and muscle injuries respectively.

“Tomorrow the left-back will be Higuain. He is fast, strong, he crosses well with his left foot and he scores goals,” he snapped when pressed on how his team would line up at a press conference.

The Portuguese went on to warn his troops that underestimating their opponents could prove costly, and confirmed that Sergio Ramos was fit to take up his place at the back.

“It is going to be a complicated match. Mallorca is a good team, they have a great coach, and their stadium is a difficult place to visit. We have to try and come home with the three points, but it is clear that it is going to be a very difficult game.

“Ramos is alright and can play. He is a player who thinks of the team and has made himself available because he knows that the team has problems at the back. He and Pepe are very good, while [Ricardo] Carvalho is working well.”

The former Inter boss went on to appraise Luka Modric’s efforts to fit in following his big-money move from Tottenham in the summer, and claimed he was not worried about his strike force’s lack of form this season.

“I am happy with Modric’s development whether or not he plays tomorrow. We signed him for his versatility, and whenever he has played he has performed well. I trust him more and more.

“Higuain and [Karim] Benzema are two good players, and the fact that they have more or less goals does not bother me, because they will get to the end of the season with more or less the same numbers as last season.”