Barcelona captain Carles Puyol will be back in action in action in three weeks’ time after he had surgery on a recurring
knee problem back in June.
Puyol, 33, missed both legs of the Spanish Supercopa against Real Madrid – which the Spanish champions won 5-4 on aggregate – and Javier Mascherano filled in at centre-back.
But Barca will not have to wait long to have the veteran back in their starting line-up, as the Spanish season continues to be delayed over strike action.
“Puyol will be playing again within three weeks. I expect him back in action halfway through September and he’ll soon be in good form again,” doctor Ramon Cugat said.
“The surgery won’t have any long-term consequences. Puyol is here to stay. He still has one, two and perhaps even three more seasons to go.”