FCBARCELONA.CAT

16.10.2008 20:20

Hleb back, Gudjohnsen out

www.fcbarcelona.cat

FC Barcelona were given one piece of good news and one piece of bad news on Thursday as Aliaksandr Hleb was given the green light to return to playing again, but Eidur Gudjohnsen was ruled out of the team’s next two matches.

A month an three days after picking up a knock against Racing Club de Santander, Hleb has been given the all clear by the club’s medical services to start playing again. The Belarusian missed the Blaugrana’s six consecutive victories, but is now ready to return to action this weekend and be included in the squad to face Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

Missing Bilbao and Basle

The bad news is that Gudjohnsen is set to miss the game in Bilbao and the Champions League encounter against Basle in midweek. The Icelandic international underwent tests after picking up a knock on international duty and it has been confirmed that he has a slight tear in a muscle in his left leg. On Friday he will undergo a further set of exams to determine precisely what is wrong and then begin a recovery programme.

During Iceland’s 1-0 victory against Macedonia on Wednesday, Gudjohnsen played the opening 81 minutes before being substituted. In recent matches the 30-year-old has been an influential figure in Barça’s victories, especially when he netted the winner against Real Betis and one of the six goals against Atlético de Madrid.