Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova has returned to work sooner than expected and oversaw training yesterday for the first time since a throat operation two weeks ago.

The 44-year-old needed a second round of surgery following an operation to remove a tumour from his saliva glands in November 2011 and assistant coach Jordi Roura had stepped in while Vilanova was out of action. He wasn’t expected to return until mid-January but visited the players in the morning and then took charge of the afternoon training session.

Vilanova began a course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy after his release from hospital on December 22nd and will alternate work with his treatment.