Xavi targets Valencia return

Barcelona midfielder Xavi is keeping his fingers crossed he will be fit in time to face league leaders Valencia when the Primera Liga resumes next weekend.

Xavi has been struggling with an Achilles tendon problem and was left out of Vicente del Bosque’s Spain squad for the Euro qualifiers against Lithuania and Scotland.

When asked about his fitness, Xavi said: “I’m getting better, I’ve suffered enough and I’ve played with quite a lot of pain.

Asked when he hoped to return to action, the Euro 2008 player of the tournament said: “I’m always optimistic, I like to think positively and I hope to be there against Valencia.”