Barcelona boss Gerardo Martino has claimed that Victor Valdes and Lionel Messi should both return to first-team training at the beginning of next year.
Valdes has missed the last couple of matches with a muscle strain, while Messi has not played since November after injuring his hamstring against Real Betis.
"Messi has trained a double shift today and I say this - the footballers who live in Spain will be integrated into the group on the 30th except for those who are playing with the Catalan national team, who will be training on that morning," Martino told reporters at a press conference.
"And the foreign players, except for Adriano and Jonathan Soriano, will join on the January 2. No-one will train on day one and day two will be a double session.
"By then, we hope for Victor Valdes and Leo Messi. And I see him as well, he is working with respect to the evolution of his injury. Dr Pruna, Pepe Costa and Zubi travelled out [yesterday] and are accompanying him. He will work this week and we have hope for his return."
Barcelona have one more league match before the winter break in La Liga.
Matt Law
