MADRID (AFP) - Barcelona's club doctor Ricard Pruna said on Wednesday that he was hopeful that Carles Puyol will be fit to start pre-season training after the defender had a cyst removed from his knee.

The operation was just the latest in a long list of injury setbacks for the 35-year-old, who has not played since undergoing more serious knee surgery back in March.

But Pruna was confident that the Spanish international has overcome the worst of his injury troubles and will be ready to start training with his team-mates when they return from holiday next month.