Eric Abidal to return to Barcelona squad

Barcelona left-back Eric Abidal has been passed fit to return to football, the club has announced.

Abidal has not played for nearly a year, after undergoing a liver transplant last April before being readmitted to hospital in January.

Now, however, he has been passed well enough to resume his football career.

"After training this morning, Eric Abidal has received the good news that he has been given his medical discharge and is therefore available for the team going into the final part of the season," the club said in a statement.

Abidal's last appearance was on February 26 last year.