29.12.2010 20:15

Back to work without injured Puyol

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Barça worked out on Wednesday for the first time after the festive break, but Carles Puyol, who is out for the next seven to ten days through injury, was missing.

Josep Guardiola led his players out onto pitch number one at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, but Puyol was absent after noting problems with his right groin in the friendly between Catalonia and Hondures (4-0), which have since been confirmed to be a strain that will see him sidelined for over a week.

Afellay the new boy

The positive side was the welcome for new signing Ibrahim Afellay , who trained for the first time with his new colleagues, and seems to be settling in nicely.

Piqué in part

Eighteen first team players were involved in the session, plus Thiago Alcántara of the reserves. Gerard Piqué, however, only joined in with the first part of the programme before working out in isolation, Milito and Jeffren trained normally, despite not having received their medical all-clears yet.

Messi away

The only other player missing from this session, the first before the league resumes against Levante, was Leo Messi, who Josep Guardiola has allowed not to report back to work until January 1 or 2.