Barcelona superstar likely to return two weeks ahead of schedule, could get minutes vs Athletic Club | OneFootball

In a huge positive for FC Barcelona, star midfielder Pedri could be poised to return from his injury much earlier than anticipated, reports Javi Miguel of AS.

The 22-year-old midfield superstar suffered an injury in training after the Clasico defeat to Real Madrid, and the initial prognosis suggested a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Despite there being some optimism, it was believed that the Spanish international’s return would likely happen in early December – meaning he would miss key games against Athletic Club, Chelsea, and Atletico Madrid.

Pedri’s recovery going well

However, as per the report, Pedri’s recovery is progressing extremely well, to the point that it is not ruled out that he could feature for a few minutes against Athletic in the first match after the international break.

If his return on 22 November is confirmed, the midfield ace would have shortened his recovery by more than two weeks, since the initial prognosis set his comeback for early December, at best.

Set to return earlier than expected. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Despite the encouraging signs, Barcelona prefer to remain cautious and avoid premature optimism, especially after Raphinha’s relapse, which occurred just before El Clasico.

Even then, the current outlook surrounding Pedri’s recovery is very positive. So much so that his presence for the crucial match against Atletico Madrid is now considered certain, and there is even the possibility he could travel to London to face Chelsea before that.

There is no doubt that the coming days will be crucial to finalising the plan for his return. For now, he is handling all his workload without complaint, and his recovery is progressing smoothly.

If he continues at this pace, he could rejoin full team training early next week, albeit gradually and without taking any unnecessary risks.