Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is expected to move closer to a return to team training next week, although he could still be two to three weeks away from playing in an official match.
The Netherlands international has yet to feature for Barcelona this season after suffering a right knee injury during the World Cup last summer.
De Jong offered an encouraging update on Saturday by posting photographs of himself training at Barcelona’s facilities. The images showed him completing off-ball exercises, including sprinting, as well as working with the ball.
His rehabilitation is understood to be progressing positively, with Mundo Deportivo reporting that he is scheduled to train on 5 October with Barcelona players who have not been called up for international duty.
The midfielder is then expected to join full team training on 8 October. Barcelona host Getafe at Camp Nou two days later, but De Jong is not expected to be ready to take part in that fixture simply because he has resumed work with the squad.
Current projections suggest De Jong will require a further two to three weeks to restore his physical condition and regain match sharpness. Only after that process will manager Hansi Flick consider selecting him for competitive action.
His latest training photograph also showed the “BARCA” lettering on his kit, reflecting his focus on returning to Barcelona’s squad after an extended spell on the sidelines.
