Barcelona central defender Gabriel Milito is closing in on a return to first team action after an 18 month absence from the game due to a cruciate ligament injury in his right knee, according to Sport.

Milito has not played for the Blaugrana since a UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg encounter with Manchester United at Old Traffor, when he suffered the devastating blow.

On Monday the 29-year-old Argentinian returned to ball drills in training for the first time as he continues his recovery. It is understood that there is no specific date for a scheduled return for Milito as club doctors do not want to rush him back and run the risk of a recurrence of the injury.

Coach Pep Guardiola is hoping he can count on the defender soon but the likelihood is that his reintroduction to the side will be phased in a similar vein to Andres Iniesta's return and he isn't expected to return to action until the end of the year.

"Things are getting better, now he just needs to participate in a game, but he has been training in tactics and positioning, hopefully we can put in a call soon," Guardiola stated at a press conference on Monday.