Barcelona captain expected to return from his injury after the September international break | OneFootball

Frenkie de Jong is currently the most notable player on Barcelona’s injury list, after the midfielder picked up a knock in the summer.

De Jong opted for a conservative treatment, a decision Barcelona did not agree with but respected nonetheless.

The Catalans wanted the midfielder to go through surgery. But de Jong’s conservative process meant the player has been out longer than expected.

A key update on de Jong’s fitness

De Jong picked up a knock in the summer. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

A recent report from Mundo Deportivo has offered a fresh update on the fitness of Frenkie de Jong, suggesting that the midfielder could return in October.

The Dutchman is currently going through running exercises on the grass, but is yet to do ball exercises or training with teammates.

That means there is still a long way to go before the player can return to the pitch. The expectation is that de Jong will utilise the September international break to speed up his recovery process.

As such, the former Ajax starlet is expected to miss all of Barcelona’s matches in the month of September and won’t return to action until club football resume sometime during the second week of October.

Barcelona’s plan with de Jong

De Jong will have to compete with Pedri upon his return. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

As mentioned earlier, Barcelona are expecting de Jong to speed up his progress during the international break.

The club are also mindful of the fact that de Jong needs to accumulate match experience before he can be seen as a viable starting option.

Unfortunately, Barcelona have a stacked schedule in the month of October, with games against the likes of Getafe, Galatasaray, Betis, PSG and Real Madrid.

De Jong, therefore, will likely spend the whole of October trying back to normal match rhythm, with Barcelona unwilling to take any unnecessary risks.

The Catalans have solid depth in midfield this season thanks to the addition of Rodri, who could soon transition into a regular starting role for the team after making a few appearances from the bench.