Barcelona in training at St George's Park.
Barcelona in training at St George's Park.(Image: David Davies/PA Wire)
View Image
Barcelona captain Ronald Araujo and €24 million new signing Karim Adeyemi are expected to be involved in a friendly against Birmingham City at St Andrew's tonight (7.45pm).
Centre-half Araujo has recovered from a calf injury which ruled him out of Uruguay's World Cup campaign while winger Adeyemi will get his first run out in Barca colours following his arrival from Borussia Dortmund.
Frenkie de Jong is ruled out after suffering medial collateral ligament damage at the World Cup, however, and it will come too soon for Alejandro Balde as he recovers from a back problem. Fermin Lopez remains in the treatment room with a metatarsal fracture and Marc-Andre ter Stegen is on his way to Ajax on loan. Raphinha will remain on the sidelines after only returning from holiday this week.
Hansi Flick has a 30-man squad in England and is expected to use two XIs during the evening. The Catalan press see it as a chance for youngsters to stake their claims, including left-back Jofre Torrents and midfielders Xavi Espart and Brian Fariñas, as well as Egyptian striker Hamza.
Mundo Deportivo reports: "Flick's attention will also be focused on the first team veterans, such as Christensen, Bernal - who will play after not featuring in the opening friendly - Casadó, and Gerard Martín. And then there's the goalkeeping position, with Yaako and Iker Rodríguez vying for the third-choice goalkeeper spot following Ter Stegen 's departure."
Barca's predicted starting XI: Szczesny; Héctor Fort, Christensen, Gerard Martín, Jofre Torrents; Tommy, Bernal; Tunkara; Roony, Hamza, Adeyemi.