MX23RW : Wednesday, November 27 23:32:53| >> :60:1448:1448:

Surgeon: 'El Clasico return a possibility for Ousmane Dembele'

Surgeon Sakari Orava reveals that Ousmane Dembele's recovery "is going quicker than expected" and he could still make a return to action at some stage next month.

The surgeon who operated on Ousmane Dembele has confirmed reports that the Barcelona forward is in contention to make his comeback from injury in time for December's hotly-anticipated El Clasico showdown with Real Madrid.

Club-record signing Dembele was struck down by injury just 30 minutes into his first La Liga start for Barca, initially seeing him ruled out until the second half of the season.

Speculation in the Spanish press earlier this week suggested that Dembele is ahead of schedule on the comeback trail, however, with a return before December 22 - the first Clasico league clash of the season - a possibility.

Asked to provide an update on the Frenchman's recovery process, surgeon Sakari Orava told Cadena SER: "It is going quicker than expected. He has already said he wants to come back before the planned date.

"But we don't know if that will be possible. Maybe, [he could face Madrid,] maybe, but I can't assure you of anything. Right now, he is training in the sandpits that Barca have and I think that, by the middle of November, he'll be able to touch a ball again.

"If he did too much now there would be a risk of a relapse but, if he takes things calmly, everything will be okay."

Dembele featured three times for Barcelona in all before damaging his hamstring in the 2-1 win against Getafe on September 16.

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General view of stadium before the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg match between Barcelona and FC Bayern Muenchen at Nou Camp on May 1, 2013
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2Real Madrid1393128111730
3Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
4Villarreal137422521425
5Athletic Bilbao146532013723
6Osasuna146441922-322
7GironaGirona146352018221
8Mallorca146351312121
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad145361111018
11Celta Vigo145362224-218
12Sevilla145361318-518
13Rayo Vallecano134451314-116
14Leganes143561319-614
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
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18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179


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