Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster admitted on Tuesday that his team is probably short of a player able to play on the wing this season.

Two days ago winger Arjen Robben said the club was lacking someone to support him on the wing.

Madrid failed to buy anyone to replace Robinho following the Brazilian's departure to Manchester City and that has left them short of alternatives.

Gonzalo Higuain, who has admitted he prefers to play in a more central role, has been forced to play wide on the right wing, while Madrid lacked a specialist to play on the left side of the attack.

Speaking in his traditional pre-match press conference, Schuster was forced to admit that Robben was right, but not before he sent out a guarded message to the Dutchman.

"Robben wanted to play all of the games last season when we changed him for Robinho and he didn't like that much," said Schuster.

"He is right. We were looking to sign wingers last season and in the future we will be looking at that question," he added in words that were reported on the official club website.

Schuster did balance his words, however, with some praising the club's only new arrival over the summer, midfielder Rafael Van der Vaart.

"I think it was a good decision to get Van der Vaart, because he is a player who is similar to Wesley Sneijder and Guti," said the Real Madrid coach.

(Xinhua News Agency September 24, 2008)