Barcelona training update: Injured midfielder begins recovery in gym, defender back on the pitch | OneFootball

With just a few weeks remaining before the start of the new season, Barcelona’s preparations for the new campaign is in full swing.

While a majority of the players are missing due to an extended World Cup break, Hansi Flick is also dealing with the absence of a few stars due to injury.

Frenkie de Jong and Alejandro Balde are two such players who are yet to take part in the pre-season campaign so far, amid struggles with injuries.

Update on de Jong and Balde’s fitness

According to AS, Barcelona held their second training session at St George’s Park on Wednesday morning, starting with a gym session before moving onto the Bobby Charlton pitch at 10:30am under new fitness coach Benjamin Kugel.

De jong has been doing gym work. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

De Jong is currently sidelined with a serious knee injury that he sustained during the World Cup. But he has still travelled to England with the squad, remained in the gym as part of his conservative recovery plan.

Balde, meanwhile, is dealing with pubalgia that is not considered serious and has not been training with the rest of the group in the past few days.

During today’s session, the La Masia left-back went for a short run on the pitch alongside a physiotherapist, working separately from the rest of the group.

Barcelona will hope to have Balde return soon. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

Rest of the squad train normally

Elsewhere, there was better news, with Fermin Lopez, Ronald Araujo and Marc Bernal all training normally alongside the group.

Following the physical work, the session shifted focus to attacking transitions and defensive recovery as Flick continues to build up his squad’s fitness levels ahead of the new campaign.

Barcelona will train again this afternoon, the first of two double sessions scheduled for the week, before further sessions on Thursday and Sunday round out their stay in England.

Barcelona are training in preparation for their friendly in England against Birmingham City on July 31, after which the Catalans are slated to face Al Ahly in the Joan Gamper trophy on August 19.