Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 9y

Andres Iniesta returns to the Barcelona squad for Copa del Rey clash

Fit-again Andres Iniesta returns to the Barcelona squad for Wednesday's Copa del Rey last-32 first leg at Huesca, but Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez have all been excused the trip.

Barca coach Luis Enrique had said he would use the fixture against the third-tier side to give some squad players extra playing time, and he has also included four youth-team players in his 16-man travelling party.

Other senior stars including Xavi Hernandez, Claudio Bravo, Jordi Alba, Javier Mascherano, Dani Alves and Gerard Pique have also been given the night off, as confirmed in a club statement.

"Andres Iniesta is back in the reckoning for a start in Barça's Cup game in Huesca tonight and is named in Luis Enrique's 16-man squad for the trip more than a month after his injury at the Santiago Bernabeu," the statement said. "Iniesta is joined in the match day squad by 11 more first team players and four from Barca B -- Edgar Ie, [Sergio] Samper, Sandro [Ramirez] and Munir [El Haddadi. Luis Enrique has decided to rest Bravo, Alves, Pique, Alba, Mascherano, Busquets, Xavi, Messi, Neymar Jr and Luis Suarez."

Squad players expected to get playing time at the Estadio El Alcoraz are expected to include Marc Bartra, Sergi Roberto, Douglas and Martin Montoya.

Meanwhile, Suarez has told Catalan radio that he and new teammate Messi have quickly built an understanding off the pitch.

"We had been together in some games [before], but the relationship had passed over time," the former Liverpool player said. "I am more comfortable now, being Argentine and Uruguayan helps. Although there is rivalry, same as with [Javier] Mascherano, here we are teammates and we are pulling for the same side. The shared culture, of [caffeine-rich drink] mate, brought us together from the start. The reception from all the team was spectacular, their humility and way of being surprised me, they are nice guys."

Versatile player Mascherano had also impressed him both on and off the pitch, Suarez said.

"[Mascherano] will be a great coach, I would always want him in my team," he said. "He is a leader, very intelligent. He always performs in any position. And personally he has helped me a lot."

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