Barca's Abidal back on training pitch after operation

MADRID (Reuters) -- Barcelona and France fullback Eric Abidal was briefly back on the training pitch on Monday after surgery last month on a liver tumour, the La Liga leaders said on their website (www.fcbarcelona.cat).

"Even Abidal ... put on his tracksuit and went out for a stroll on the pitch," Barca said. "In no way was it a training session but it was his first contact with the training ground."

Barca have said the 31-year-old, who has been in superb form this season, should be able to begin proper training again sometime towards the end of this month.