Barca set date for Dembele return
Barcelona have revealed when forward Ousmane Dembele will return from injury and it's good news for manager Ernesto Valverde.
The French international will return to action in the New Year following three and a half months on the sidelines. The youngster has been closing in on a return for some time and trained with his team-mates ahead of 'El Clasico', but the club were reluctant to rush him back into action too soon.
Dembele is now expected to make his return in either the Copa del Rey game against Celta Vigo on January 4 or the La Liga clash with Levante on January 7. In fact, Barca's official website has been using Dembele's return to sell tickets for the Levante game, with the caption 'Don't miss Dembele's return to action at the Camp Nou' prevalent on the club site.
The 20-year-old was injured against Getafe in mid-September and was operated on in Finland by doctor Sakari Orava and the club's marketing department seem confident that he is closing in on a return to action.
Barca will be eager to get the former Broussia Dortmund man back playing, with him having only started one game for the club since his big-money summer move.