Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard has included striker Samuel Eto'o in the 18-man squad to face Athletic Bilbao in the Primera Liga on Sunday. Eto'o returned to full training 3 weeks ago after a four-month layoff for knee surgery. But the Cameroonian ace only made a brief appearance against Osasuna earlier this month before refusing to enter as a late sub against Santander a week later. The Spanish League top scorer last season was eventually omitted from Barca's recent consecutive defeats against Valencia and Liverpool but Barca manager Frank Rijkaard has revealed that Eto'o is ready to play this Sunday. ''Samuel told me he is ready to play and that means he is feeling good again," Rijkaard said in a press conference on Saturday.
Ronnie has come under fire "Personally I think we'll have to wait and see tomorrow. He still needs time to recover full fitness." Barca will be without suspended duo Deco and Gianluca Zambrotta as well as injured defender Juliano Belletti, while Rafael Marquez is rested. Rijkaard downplayed recent media reports suggesting that Ronaldinho might be underperforming due to overweight after photographs were taken for the Brazilian following the Liverpool defeat apparently showing his body in bad shape. "He is a player who has always performed well for the team and it is a shame that some people are turning against him," said the Barcelona boss. "The players have huge confidence in him because of his skill and also because he is a great team mate."
