Vilanova attends training

Barcelona head coach Tito Vilanova has returned to the Catalan club’s training base less than two weeks after undergoing surgery on a tumour in his throat.

The 44-year-old has temporarily stepped aside at the Nou Camp after it was confirmed he required a further operation on cancerous tissue near his parotid gland, having previously had saliva glands removed in November 2011.

Vilanova faces six weeks of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, with his assistant Jordi Roura assuming control of the first team, but the Barca boss was well enough to attend a training session yesterday.

It remains unclear, though, whether Vilanova will be involved in preparing his players for Barca’s home game with city rivals Espanyol this Sunday.