Barcelona central defender Thomas Vermaelen could finally be set to make his debut for the Catalans against Deportivo la Coruna on Saturday.
With the title already won, AS maintains that Coach Luis Enrique plans to take advantage of the last La Liga game of the season to rotate his squad and use some of the players who have not featured too often this term.
As a result, the Belgium international, signed from Arsenal before the start of this season, is expected to be handed his first-team bow after struggling with a succession of injuries since his arrival.
The 29-year-old received the medical all-clear some weeks ago but has been forced to sit on the sidelines with Enrique’s team in such superb form, while the only minutes he has enjoyed in a Barca shirt have been in a friendly against the Indonesian Under-19 side back in September.
In addition to Vermaelen, third-choice goalkeeper Jordi Masip, who has struggled to dislodge Claudio Bravo and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, could also be given a run-out, while other fringe players such as Marc Bartra, Sergi Roberto, Pedro and Rafinha could all feature.
