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.