Marc-Andre Ter Stegen back in Barcelona training before Deportivo with Umtiti the only absentee

Barcelona number one Marc-Andre Ter Stegen returned to full training on Friday morning (15 December) to give manager Ernesto Valverde a near fully fit squad ahead of the final two games of the year against Deportivo La Coruna and Real Madrid.

Andres Iniesta, Javier Mascherano, Ousmane Dembele and Rafinha Alcantara trained with the rest of their teammates but it is still uncertain whether any of the injured quartet will receive the medical clearance in time to face the Galician side on Sunday (17 December).

Samuel Umtiti was the only absentee from training with the French star expecting to be out of action until February due to a hamstring injury.

Ter Stegen has started all 15 of Barca's La Liga games, conceding only seven goals.

However, on Thursday [14 December] Barcelona said the Germany international trained on his own to do specific strength-building exercises.

Spanish publication Sport reported at the time that his absence from the training session was as a precaution due to a minor fitness discomfort.

And the in-form goalkeeper has now allayed concerns over his fitness after returning to full training on Friday to prepare for a clash with Deportivo which will come only a week before the first El Clasico of La Liga at Real Madrid on 23 December.

Iniesta, Mascherano, Dembele and Rafinha have also been training with the rest of their teammates in recent days but Barcelona are yet to provide an official injury update on their respective recoveries.

The Catalans will train again on Saturday [16 December] and Sport claims that Iniesta and Mascherano could be given the medical clearance to make Valverde's squad to face Deportivo.

Earlier this week Iniesta suggested that he was optimistic he will be ready to return to action for the visit of the Galician side.

"I feel good, more or less. It wasn't an injury more just discomfort. It was too early to play in the last game but I hope to be available for Sunday," Iniesta said. "We will return to training tomorrow and we will see the feelings [I have]. But today I am optimistic [to be available] for the weekend and for the following one [when Barcelona will visit Real Madrid]."

Mascherano also looked fit in the video released by the club during the workout and could also be back from a month spell on the sidelines amid ongoing speculations linking him with a January move away from Barcelona.

Meanwhile, long-term injury casualties Dembele and Rafinha are certainly going to miss the clash with Deportivo but Valverde recently suggested that the French winger had a chance to return against Real on 23 December.

The La Liga leaders will be looking to secure a victory against Depor to increase their current 8-point gap with Real before El Clasico.

Nevertheless, Los Blancos won't play a league on weekend as they will instead face Gremio in the Fifa Club World Cup final to be played on Saturday in Abu Dhabi.