Messi, Mascherano and Cuenca also declared fit

It’s good news all round today for the FC Barcelona first team, with no fewer than four players returning from injury. Leo Messi, Javier Mascherano, Carles Puyol and Isaac Cuenca are all available for selection by Tata Martino after recovering from their respective injuries.

In fact, Martino has picked Messi, Puyol and Mascherano for the game with Osasuna. The Argentinian striker returns from a thigh injury sustained against Almeria in late September.

Mascherano is also back, in his case after a four-week absence with a hamstring injury picked up against Real Sociedad.

Cuenca back after four months

Carles Puyol had been out for seven months, and now striker Isaac Cuenca has also learned that his own long road to recovery is over. In June he underwent arthroscopy on the outer meniscus in his right knee and four months later is ready to play again.

With these four players all available again, the only players still missing through injury are Jordi Alba and Afellay.