While Hansi Flick is now spoilt for choice in midfield, the manager still does not have many options to rotate the forwards given the limited bench strength.
Ansu Fati’s injury virtually removes the coach’s only available option in the department, but there is good news as Ferran Torres is working hard towards a recovery.
As revealed by SPORT, Torres was seen at the club facilities on Thursday despite the manager giving non-internationals one week off and it is clear that the player is accelerating to return at the earliest.
Not far off
Torres was injured against Alaves at Estadi Mendizorozza early last month and has been working on the sidelines ever since. Now, he finally begins to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The player is now in the final stretch of recovery from his biceps femoris injury and the two-week hiatus from club football gives him more time to return to Hansi Flick’s plans at the earliest.
The Spanish outlet reveal that Torres is pushing to be available against Celta Vigo after the international break but his availability is far from certain.
If he is unable to make it in time and his recovery requires the initially stipulated time of eight weeks, he will make it back in time for Barcelona’s game against Mallorca in early December.
Flick will hope the player can beat the deadline and make himself available at the earliest for it is critical that he has squad depth at this point in the season. Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski’s injuries are a testament that the forwards are overworked.
So far this season, Torres has played eight La Liga games for Barcelona and averages 41 minutes per game. In that duration, he has scored one goal and provided two assists.
