Barcelona defender Thomas Vermaelen is nearing a return to first team action following his doctor’s revelation that the Belgian will be able to play in two weeks' time.

Vermaelen arrived at Barcelona at the start of the current season from Premier League giants Arsenal after spending five years at the Emirates Stadium.




Barcelona have enjoyed a stellar campaign thus far, which has seen them climb to the top of La Liga, reach the final of the Copa del Rey and make it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The form of the Catalan giants suggest that they remain among the favourites for all three tournaments.

However, Vermaelen has not been able to play any part in Luis Enrique’s first team owing to his long-term injury which was operated upon towards the end of last year, and after four months of recuperation in the gym, the 28-year-old has begun training with the first team.
 


And his doctor Sakari Orava has revealed that the centre-back is nearing first team football, saying that defender will start playing in two weeks' time.

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"[Vermaelen] will be able to play in one or two weeks”, Orava told Marca.

Barcelona struggled with lack of fit centre-backs during their last campaign, which prompted the club to sign Jeremy Mathieu and Vermaelen last summer, and the Frenchman’s contributions alongside those of La Masia graduate Marc Bartra’s have offset the former Arsenal man’s absence.

Enrique’s men will resume their league campaign with a trip to Celta Vigo on 5th April post the ongoing international break.

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