Pedri back in squad for Real Sociedad

The long wait is over! Pedri has finally been given the medical all-clear and has been named in the squad for this weekend's game at Real Sociedad (Saturday 9pm CET).

The midfielder has not played since the game with Cadiz on August 20, an absence of 71 days, and the injury means he has sat out nine league games and three more in the Champions League. A fundamental cog in the Barça wheel, the 20-year-old has been sorely missed, as have several other injured players in recent weeks.

The full squad is as follows: Ter Stegen, João Cancelo, Balde, R. Araujo, I. Martínez, Gavi, Ferran, Pedri, Lewandowski, Raphinha, Iñaki Peña, João Félix, Christensen, Marcos A., Romeu, Gündoğan, Kounde, Astralaga, Lamine Yamal, M. Casadó and Fermín. 

But it looks like the worst of it is finally over, and now it's just Frenkie de Jong and Sergi Roberto who are unavailable.

Final session at Ciutat Esportiva

Marc Casadó and Astralaga of Barça Atlètic joined the first team regulars for Friday morning's training session on a cold and windy Tito Vilanova field. The summer in Barcelona feels like it has lasted forever, but today it really did feel like autumn has kicked in. This was the final workout before tomorrow's game, and it's a big one. Barça, fourth of the table, face a tough challenge at the home of the in-form team that are just one place below them.