PUYOL DECLARED FULLY FIT, SET TO EXTEND BARCELONA CONTRACT.

Club captain of FC Barcelona and Spanish center back, Carles Puyol was yesterday given a clean bill of health by the Medical staff of the Catalan Club. You will recall that the player has had series of recurring knee troubles over the past one year and had to undergo surgery on the 12th of May to correct an osteochondral injury in his right knee. The surgical arthroscopic process was performed on the captain in order to clean out the his knee joint.  This amongst other things resulted in his inability to join the all conquering Spanish side at the just concluded Euro 2012 competition.

FC Barcelona Captain, Carles Puyol.

Puyol joined training last week and he completed a couple of sessions with the group and having been declared fully fit, he is looking forward to playing again. In a recent press conference, he said "“I feel fine, better every day. I’ve trained a lot. It has been a tough summer but it has given fruit and I’m delighted to have been declared fit. Now I’ll try to give it all I’ve got … I have to get my fitness back and I hope my knee responds well”.

Speaking on his contract with the club which ends this year, he added “I have always felt appreciated by the club, the fans, my team-mates, and the manager” he explained. “I was talking to Zubizarreta the other day and the issue doesn’t look too complicated. There won’t be any problems, things are on track … I’m just looking forward to playing again. If the Club wants me to stay, I’ll stay.”

However, the club will be without the trio of Marc Muniesa, Thiago and Isaac Cuenca who are all injured. Muniesa needing at least six months to fully recover from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He was operated upon earlier today at the club's medical facility.