Flick waiting: new development in Raphinha's condition

The Brazilian star's aim appears clear

Barcelona's Brazilian star Raphinha is set to rejoin team training on Thursday after weeks out through injury.

Raphinha picked up the injury during the international break with Brazil, and the problem cost him Barca's last two matches against Getafe in La Liga and Galatasaray in the Champions League.

Catalan newspaper "Sport" report that the winger will train with his Barcelona teammates on Thursday, a significant step in his recovery.

He will go out onto the pitch alongside the rest of the group in a session designed to gauge his physical response after several days of individual work.

The plan is for Raphinha to complete at least part of the team session.

Over the past few days he has trained alone on the pitch, with his physical workload building gradually. Barcelona's trip to Istanbul to face Galatasaray also gave him time to keep pushing on with his recovery, and he is feeling better by the day.

His target looks obvious. Raphinha wants to be available for Saturday's La Liga trip to Real Betis, though neither he nor the medical staff fancy taking any unnecessary risks. It all hinges on how he responds in Thursday's session and how he pulls up over the following hours.

Few players in the Catalan squad work harder, and his absence landed at an awkward moment in the schedule. Keen as the Brazilian is to get back and help his teammates, he knows a clean recovery with no setbacks comes first.

Against Galatasaray in Istanbul, Barcelona missed exactly what he brings: energy and relentless pressing. Hansi Flick's side still produced an outstanding second half and shut the Turkish side out completely.

With the fixtures piling up and decisive games coming, Raphinha's return would be a huge lift for the coaching staff.

Should everything keep heading in the right direction and Flick judge the moment right, the Brazilian could travel with the squad to Seville. Nothing is guaranteed yet, but Thursday's session could be the one that brings his comeback forward.

Frenkie de Jong will also feature in that session. The Dutchman rejoined the group last week and, as Flick explained in a press conference, could be given medical clearance this week, which would put him in contention for the Betis squad.