Post script. Injury problems over, and raring to go for the new season. However has strong competition for places, with Rochemback, Xavi and company.

10.06. Recovering well from operation and could be fit for the cup semi-finals at the end of June.

01.04. Picked up a serious knee injury in training and has had to undergo an operation. Will be out for the rest of the season.

18.03. Came on for Kluivert in the last minute as Serra Ferrer packed his defence to defend their aggregate lead. They still let a goal in, but go through on the away goal rule. Second half substitute once again in the match at Numancia, this time replacing Gabri.

11.03. With Rivaldo away on international duty, came in for the UEFA cup tie against Celta playing in the attacking midfield position behind Kluivert. Replaced by Petit with two minutes to go. Non playing substitute against Mallorca at the weekend.

04.03. Disappointed to be left out of Spain's squad for the friendly against England. Came on for Overmars for the last few minutes against Real Madrid as Barcelona defended their 2-2 result.

25.02. Came on for Luis Enrique for the last 25 minutes against AEK in the UEFA cup second leg with the score already 4-0. Was brought down in the penalty area near the end and insisted on taking the penalty himself. He did score though. Substitute again at the weekend against Real Sociedad, once again replacing Sergi for the last few minutes with his team already three up.

18.02. Non playing substitute for the UEFA cup tie at Athens and played the last 10 minutes in the league against Depor, coming on for Sergi as Barça tried for the winner. However they lost to an injury time goal from Víctor.

11.02. Came on for Alfonso for the last ten minutes against Espanyol in the cup after Cocu was sent off. Started the match on the right wing against Racing, switched back to the anchor position at half time and was substituted by Zenden after an hour.

04.02. Came on for the last fifteen minutes for the cup quarter final with Espanyol. Played the last fifteen minutes against Bilbao, replacing Cocu with the score already 7-0.

11.02. Came on for Alfonso for the last ten minutes against Espanyol in the cup after Cocu was sent off. Started the match on the right wing against Racing, switched back to the anchor position at half time and was substituted by Zenden after an hour.

04.02. Came on for the last fifteen minutes for the cup quarter final with Espanyol. Played the last fifteen minutes against Bilbao, replacing Cocu with the score already 7-0.

28.01. Started the match against Málaga in the same position as last week. Picked up an injury when he fell awkwardly, but carried on until 20 minutes from the end, when he was substituted by Petit.

21.01. Played the whole 90 minutes against Valencia in a midfield anchor role alongside Guardiola.

14.01. Played the full match in the mud at Torrelavega in the third round of the cup. Played the last 20 minutes in the league against Valladolid.

07.01. Rested in the cup match against Ceuta, but came back in for the league game at Oviedo. Set up the second goal for Rivaldo, heading down a corner. Was replaced by Petit near the end after Oviedo pulled two goals back.

24.12. Kept his place for the midweek league match at home to Alavés, playing further forward as Guardiola and Cocu returned to the side. Had a fairly quiet game though, and was replaced by Reiziger with fifteen minutes to go.

17.12. Started the match against Gandía in the cup and got the first goal, a volley from close up after a long cross from Alfonso on the left. Played the full 90 minutes. Came in to the league side at the weekend against Rayo in place of the suspended Cocu, and also scored the first goal, a solo effort picking up a short pass from Kluivert and running at the defence before shooting across the keeper.

10.12. Second half substitute in both the UEFA cup game against Bruges midweek and in the league against Espanyol, playing the last 20 minutes in both.

03.12. Came down with gastric enteritis during the week and had to pull out of squad for weekend game.

26.11. Came back in to the starting line up for the match against Club Brugge in the anchor role in midfield. Played the whole game, and started again in the Sunday match against Osasuna, making the first goal for Kluivert before being replaced by Cocu.

19.11. Was disappointed to be left out of the Spanish squad for the friendly match against Holland. Came on for the last half hour against Zaragoza with his team already three goals down. Scored the consolation goal with a header in the last minute.

12.11. Was on the bench for the Champions League game against Besiktas, coming on for Sergi for the last half hour of the game. Late substitute again in the home match against Villarreal, replacing Sergi with the team already 1-2 down.

05.11. With the team going through another mini-crisis, started the match against Numancia in the attacking midfield position. Was unlucky not to score when alone in front of the keeper, the referee awarding a positional offside against Alfonso. Put a couple of headers wide, and was replaced by De La Peña in the middle of the second half. Was going to be left on the bench for Saturday's game at Las Palmas, but Cocu had not fully recovered from gastro-enteritis so he played in one of the defensive midfield roles.

29.10. Came on in the second half for the Champions League match against Leeds and set up the equaliser, heading the ball against the post before Rivaldo scored from the rebound. Reappeared again in the match against Mallorca, replacing Reiziger at half time, but was unable to help turn the game around.

22.10. Just about recovered, and made a token appearance in the last four minutes in the game against Real Madrid.

15.10. Played for Spain against Israel and scored the first goal, his second in the last two international games. However went off shortly afterwards with an injury and is likely to be out for two or three weeks.

01.10. Still not at his best as Barça lose two games in four days. Was substituted by Overmars against Milan halfway through the second half, and Serra Ferrer left him out of the starting line up against Deportivo. He came on for the last quarter of an hour in the end. Camacho has kept faith with him though, picking him for the double-header against Israel and Austria.

24.09. Yet to reach his peak at Barça, Gerard is currently playing in Guardiola's position in defensive midfield. Not his best position, and Serra Ferrer switched him with De la Peña against Racing, playing just behind the front two, which worked better.

Another one of Barcelona's prodigal sons, Gerard left Camp Nou to seek his fortune elsewhere. He joined Valencia, and after a year on loan to Alavés he returned to triumph in Valencia's Champions League team last season. Rumoured to be the big money target of top Italian sides after winning a place in the Spanish Euro 2000 squad, Barcelona's new president Juan Gaspart stepped in to offer him the chance to return home. Part of Camacho's plans for the future, he scored his first goal at international level in the recent qualifier against Bosnia.