Football: Guardiola says Villa recovering well

Villa scored 51 goals in 82 internationals for Spain and is recovering after fracturing his tibia.

MADRID: Barcelona and Spain striker David Villa is recuperating well, said his club coach Pep Guardiola yesterday, but the forward faces a battle to make Euro 2012 after fracturing his tibia. Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque last week admitted he is worried he may have to do without Villa, who has scored 51 goals in 82 internationals, given the star would not be match fit even if he can make the squad. But Guardiola, who is stepping down at Barca at the end of this season, said there was some cause for optimism with the player now back in training. “He is coming on very well,” said Guardiola. “But the doctors are much more in a position to evaluate his chances of playing the Euro. Everything is going well but he did suffer a serious injury and we will see how things come along over the next few days.” Meanwhile, Del Bosque will name his final 23-man squad on May 27.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 12^th, 2012.