Villa to resume full training

1 August 2012 01:17

Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova has received encouraging news, as David Villa has been cleared to resume full training.

The Spanish striker has been out of action since sustaining a fractured tibia in Barca's 4-0 victory against Al-Sadd at the Club World Cup in December, forcing him to miss the rest of the season and Euro 2012.

But after seven-and-a-half months on the sidelines, Villa is now edging closer towards a full recovery, although club doctor Ramon Cugat stressed that the striker is not yet at 100 per cent.

"David Villa is no longer in the doctors' hands, but in the hands of the club's physios," Cugat told reporters.

Cugat also confirmed that Marc Muniesa will only return to action in February after undergoing surgery on a torn anterior cruciate ligament, while Thiago Alcantara will begin performing running exercises next week as he recovers from a persistent shin injury.