Manuel Pellegrini, the Real Madrid coach, understands why his Portugal counterpart, Carlos Queiroz, is keen to have Cristiano Ronaldo on board for their World Cup play-off against Bosnia-Herzegovina, but has serious doubts the injured forward will be fit enough to play.

Queiroz yesterday named Ronaldo in a 23-man squad for the two games, even though the latest medical reports from Madrid say the forward will be out of action for at least two more weeks.

Ronaldo has missed Madrid’s last eight matches after suffering an ankle injury during the Champions League match with Marseille on September 30, and then aggravating it while while playing for Portugal in their World Cup qualifier against Hungary on October 10.

It remains to be seen whether Ronaldo will feature in either match on November 14 and 18, but Pellegrini is dubious.

“He has a medical treatment that he is following,” he said. “He wants to play and it’s normal the coach wants him, but there is a medical issue and I believe its very difficult [for Ronaldo to be able to play].”

Real won all of their opening seven matches this season with Ronaldo in the team, during which spell he scored nine goals. Since he has been sidelined, they have won three, lost three and drawn twice.