Eric Abidal

FUTAA.COM

Barcelona and France defender Eric Abidal has been given the clearance to resume his playing career after about 12 months of absence from action.

Abidal has been recovering after undergoing a liver transplant last April having previously had surgery to remove a tumour in March 2011.

Further tests

He started training again in October and was then able to re-join his team-mates for squad sessions in mid-December but was re-admitted into the hospital last month for further tests and the 33-year-old has now been given the green light to return to action, reports futaa.com.

A statement by Barcelona as posted by fifa.com disclosed that the defender has been cleared to play.

“After training this morning, Eric Abidal has received the good news that he has been given his medical discharge and is therefore available for the team going into the final part of the season.”

Abidal's last appearance for the Catalans was on February 26, 2012 against Atletico Madrid.