Injured Barcelona midfielder might not return to the pitch by next El Clasico – report

Injured Barcelona midfielder might not return to the pitch by next El Clasico – report Frenkie de Jong is one of the big-name Barcelona players currently sidelined after picking up an injury in the summer. The midfielder’s decision to take up conservative treatment has led to a slight delay in recovery, though Barcelona have not missed his presence much thanks to the excellent combination of Rodri and Pedri. De Jong, though, is slowly making progress and a recent report from Mundo Deportivo has offered a more comprehensive view of his return trajectory. De Jong to be available by next Clasico? De Jong is not expected to be back until November. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) As per the report, the countdown for de Jong’s return to the pitch has already begun, with the player set to return to group training by October 5. This is just before club football resumes, so the timing is ideal for the Dutch international, who will have to integrate into the pitch and dynamics of the squad after a long spell on the sidelines. De Jong will gradually start training with the group, but his return to playing will take a few weeks. The likely date for his readiness is the next Clasico on October 25, but his participation in that match is unrealistic given its difficulty and his long absence. When will de Jong be available? Barcelona are hoping to have de Jong back for the Alaves game. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) It is plausible that de Jong will be available for the Barcelona squad for the El Clasico on October 25, but he might not feature at all. Keeping that in mind, the report adds that the Dutchman will see the November 1 clash against Alaves as the most probable match for his return. This is not something Barcelona will mind so long as their current crop of midfield options in Pedri, Rodri and Marc Bernal avoid any injuries till that period. As for de Jong, he will have a monumental task at hand when he does return to full fitness, as the former Ajax starlet will have to compete with an in-form midfield duo of Pedri and Rodri for a place in the starting eleven.