FCBARCELONA.CAT

29.12.2009 19:30

Back to work with unexpected arrivals

Edgar Fornós / Jordi Clos

The Barça players returned to work this Tuesday with sixteen players turning out for training including Milito, Alves and Maxwell, who were not expected back until 2 January. Four reserve team players also took part in the session.

The Christmas holidays are over. After eight days off the Barça squad was back at work this Tuesday evening at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Not all the players were there, but Guardiola did have available Milito, Alves and Maxwell who, like the other South Americans, had not been required to be back until 2 January so they could spend New Year with their families.

Missing players

Two of the other players allowed to come back later (Messi and Márquez) were missing as was Touré Yaya, who has joined his national squad for the upcoming African Cup of Nations. Keita and Jeffren were also absent as they continue with their recovery from muscle injuries.

The midfielder has had a check-up scan which has confirmed that his right hamstring injury has healed up. He will be in Barcelona over the next few days doing muscle work before joining his national team for the African Cup of Nations.

Club doctors have also checked Jeffren’s torn right thigh muscle and planned his treatment programme for the next few weeks.

Iniesta trains on his own

Andrés Iniesta came to the session but trained on his own with a fitness specialist. He had had a check-up with club doctors beforehand to examine his left thigh injury which is coming on well, though it remains to be seen whether he will be available for Saturday’s game.

Training in the rain

The session also featured reserve team players Gai Assulin, Thiago Alcántara, Jonathan dos Santos and Víctor Vázquez. It began on time at 6 pm and as usual Guardiola welcomed his players back one by one. The first twenty-five minutes of the session took place in the rain.