18-year-old La Masia winger called up to Barcelona first-team training by Xavi

With injuries piling up left and right, Barcelona are being forced to dip into their academy reserves to make up numbers in the first-team roster.

As many as nine players are currently sidelined through injury for Barcelona, with Ferran Torres becoming the latest casualty, after suffering a hamstring problem against Osasuna last night.

With games coming thick and fast, Xavi has been forced to call up more and more young talents from the academy and reserve ranks for training sessions and on squad lists.

Dani Rodriguez training with first team

As such, Barcelona manager Xavi has called up young winger Dani Rodriguez to train with the first team ahead of the weekend’s La Liga clash against Alaves, reports Victor Navarro.

Rodriguez, 18, is a versatile winger who can play on both flanks or through the middle as an attacking midfielder.

The youngster is part of the club’s Juvenil A setup but has already turned out six times for Rafa Marquez’s Barça Atletic side as well. Notably, the teenage winger has three goals and three assists each in six UEFA Youth League matches this term.

Dani Rodriguez has been called up to train with the senior team in the past as well and with no Joao Felix, Ferran Torres, and Raphinha, he might make the squad list against Alaves.

Other youngsters in training

Apart from Dani Rodriguez, Xavi also called up Barça Atletic’s lead goalscorer this season, Pau Victor, who has also been in and around the first-team training on quite a few occasions already.

Meanwhile, the likes of Ander Astralaga, Diego Kochen, Marc Casado, Pau Cubarsi, and Hector Fort, who are all regulars in the first-team training, also featured.