FC Barcelona have a return date for Pedri scheduled so that the injured midfielder can feature in the biggest game of the season so far according to SPORT.

It was during a Thursday morning training session late last month that the Spain international picked up a knock to his right quadriceps.

"He is unavailable for selection and his recovery will determine his return," added a club statement confirming the development, after several outlets in Catalonia and Spain reported the news.

While Barca themselves did not want to put a timeframe on how long Pedri would be out, the likes of COPE explained that sources told them he would be sidelined for "more than five to six weeks".

This led us to conclude that we shouldn't expect to see the 20-year-old on the pitch doing what he does best until October at the earliest.

And as we now begin the last fortnight of September, more accurate forecasts are being made.

According to SPORT, Barca plan for Pedri to lace his boots up in mid-to-late October.

Another international break means that Barca themselves will not return to action until a home meeting with Athletic Club on October 22 after travelling to Granada on the 8th.

By featuring a little against the Bilbao outfit at the Montjuic Staium, however, Pedri can perhaps make his proper return on the 29th.

This is when Real Madrid travel to the same ground to play El Clasico, in what will be both sides' biggest game of the season thus far and a fixture that could have a great impact on where the La Liga title ends up come the end of May.

When Pedri was injured last season, stumbling off before half time against Manchester United in the Europa League, Barca suffered greatly in his absence.

This time round, though, it hasn't been the case so far with the likes of Gavi, Oriol Romeu, Frenkie de Jong and Ilkay Gundogan performing excellently in the centre of the park.

When he's finally available for selection again, Xavi would do well to rest Pedri better and perhaps use Fermin Lopez too in games of lesser importance to make sure that neither the number 8 nor his colleagues burn out.