Puyol to return for Barca tomorrow

Barcelona have been lifted by the news that defender Carles Puyol has been given the all clear to play in the crucial UEFA Cup clash with Celtic.

Puyol had been substituted against Real Sociedad last Sunday after injuring his hip in a collision with Turkish striker Nihat Kahveci.

With former Rangers man Giovanni van Bronckhorst in the treatment room and both Thiago Motta and Javier Saviola suspended, the loss of Puyol would have been a big blow for coach Frank Rijkaard.

The absence of Saviola in attack has been lessened with the news Patrick Kluivert is ready to return after over a month out with a knee injury.

Luis Enrique, who is in contention to play alongside Kluivert, claims Barca are theoretically stronger than Celtic.

“From what I have seen in the first game we are superior, but the result was 1-0. This superiority is no use if you don’t show it in the match,” he said.

“The game against Celtic is going to be very complicated because we need to overhaul the deficit and above all because we have the risk of conceding a goal and that would make it extremely difficult to go through.”

Midfielder Gerard Lopez, who is set to come into the side for Edgar Davids, also feels it will be a tough game and a big disappointment if they are eliminated from the cup.

“We will try to win and qualify for the next round,” he said.

“It is one of the most important games of the season. To be eliminated would be a big blow and would mean that we would not be able to complete our objectives.

“We hope to pass the round and provide the trophy for our fans.”

Barca are to show their thanks for the respect the Celtic fans demonstrated during the one-minute silence at Celtic Park in the aftermath of the Madrid bombings, by playing the Scottish side’s anthem ’You’ll never walk alone’ before their own on Thursday.