Barcelona boss Xavi has said that Ansu Fati will decide himself when he is ready to return to first-team action.

The Spain international missed around nine months with a serious knee injury before returning to action last September, but he has since suffered two setbacks.

Fati picked up his latest hamstring problem during the Copa del Rey contest with Athletic Bilbao in January, but he decided against undergoing surgery despite fears that the injury could be a consistent issue.

The 19-year-old is now back training with Barcelona, fuelling suggestions that he will be able to return to the field before the end of the 2021-22 campaign.

Xavi has insisted that the club will not rush the teenager, who will decide himself when he feels able to make his first-team return.

"It's going to depend on him, on how he feels in training, after starting back last week. He's been training three or four times with the team. But only on a reduced level, as we are taking good care of him. How he feels will decide when he comes back," Xavi told reporters ahead of Sunday's clash with Sevilla.

Fati has scored 18 goals and registered six assists in 53 appearances for Barcelona since making his debut for the Catalan giants in 2019. body check tags ::