Barca: Eto'o back by Nov

Barcelona have announced that Cameroon international striker Samuel Eto'o is set to return to the first team before the end of November. Thierry Henry has partnered Lionel Messi in attack since Eto'o's absence.

"He will be fit to play in three or four weeks," said club doctor Ramon Cugat.

The prolific Cameroon forward, who was the Spanish first division's top scorer two seasons ago, has only played in one league game this season before rupturing a tendon in a friendly match with Inter Milan in late August.

"It does depend on how he feels, of course. The decision (to play) is down to the player," added Cugat.

"At this stage a doctor cannot give orders. He can advise and supervise, but the actual decision of when he plays again is for Eto'o and the coaching staff.

"If he had a normal job then he would have been working for several weeks already but we are talking about an elite sportsman, who has to run, stretch and turn, and even more so in his case as he is an explosive player.

"The tendons have joined together well and the hip is not suffering. He is keen to return but he does not want to play before he is ready so that he does not suffer a relapse."

It is the second long-term injury that the 26-year-old former African Player of the Year has suffered since moving to Barcelona three seasons ago. Last season, Eto'o was out for four months with a knee injury.