Madrid, Jan 25 (IANS): Spanish La Liga leaders Barcelona announced that their Dutch winger Ibrahim Afellay has been cleared to play again after five months of absence due to injury.
"(Coach) Gerardo Martino has admitted he likes Afellay's game and that he could call on him for the remainder of the season," said a club statement Friday, reports Xinhua.
The 27-year-old Afellay, who has scored five goals in 44 international games for the Dutch national team, joined the Spanish giants from Dutch side PSV Eindhoven in 2011.
The thigh surgery he underwent five months ago was the second surgery after he arrived in Barcelona. Afellay had previously torn a ligament in his left knee in September 2011, with surgery then keeping him sidelined until April 2012.
He was loaned to German Bundesliga side Schalke 04 last season and scored two goals in ten appearances.