Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde will resist the urge to rush Ousmane Dembele back from injury ahead of next week's Clasico clash with Real Madrid, insisting he will not be risked before January.
Dembele arrived in August as a direct replacement for Neymar after his world-record €222 million move to Paris Saint-Germain, but injury has curtailed his impact.
The 20-year-old winger ruptured a thigh muscle in his first La Liga start against Getafe on September 16 and has not featured since.
And, although the first Clasico of the Liga campaign takes place on December 23, Valverde does not feel tempted to risk him.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Sunday's visit of Deportivo La Coruna, Valverde told reporters: "Dembele is fine.
"He's started doing more things with the group this week, but he has not completed all the training.
"We're still on the same plan; we think that by January he can play. To do anything else would be risky."
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