Barca boss hails Villa return

Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova has welcomed the return of striker David Villa to the side after eight months out through injury.

The Spain international fractured his tibia during December's Club World Cup and missed the rest of the season, including his country's Euro 2012 triumph. But the forward made his long awaited return on Saturday, when he came on as a substitute in the friendly against Dinamo Bucharest and Vilanova admits the 30-year-old has been missed. "Last year we missed him because he's a player that guarantees goals," Vilanova told the club's official website. "He's very necessary to the side. "I spoke with the doctors and the physios before playing him against Dinamo. It is very important for us to recover players, especially if they are well-loved like Villa is."