According to reports from AS, Barcelona goalkeeper Marc Andre ter Stegen will be ready to feature against Getafe in Matchday 3 of La Liga.
The German shot-stopper went under the blade in May, towards the end of the last league campaign. His patellar injury had been an open secret for a while, and ter Stegen played through it to defend the Catalans goal till the penultimate matchday of the 2020-21 season.
Dr. Hakan Alfredson oversaw the surgical intervention alongside members of the Blaugrana medical staff. It seemed to be the right time to get the procedure done, for the Catalans were mathematically out of the title race and the break would provide him with a longer recuperation period.
- Man City deny offering Messi £430m deal
- Frenkie de Jong named Barcelona’s best player for20/21 season
- Champions League: Pochettino reveals conversation with Messi after PSG defeated Barcelona
The 29-year-old missed Germany’s Euro campaign because of the surgery, and also had to watch the opening two games of Barcelona’s season from the stands.
Two weeks ago, the German was said to be in the ‘final stage’ of his recovery. Experts said he could be available as early as September, after the international break.
However, the recovery seems to have gone faster than anticipated. Ter Stegen is reportedly ready to return to action on 29th August, close to two weeks before expected.
His return will be a massive boost to the Catalan side. Needless to say, his ball-playing abilities and decisive saves have been missed.
In his absence, Neto started Barcelona’s games against Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao. The Brazilian had his worst nightmare at San Mames where the Galicians pressurised him to the extreme limit. His relative weakness in comfort on the ball was heavily targeted by the hosts, a facet of the game in which ter Stegen excels. [Barca Universal]
