Summer signing Clement Lenglet is set to receive his first run of Barcelona starts thanks to compatriot Samuel Umtiti’s Champions League ban, according to reports.
Lenglet, 23, has only made one substitute appearance in La Liga since he was snapped up for €35.9 million from Sevilla in July.
Mundo Deportivo has stated that this situation is about to change for the French centre-back in the coming weeks. Umtiti’s dismissal for two yellow cards in Tuesday’s 4-0 thrashing of PSV Eindhoven means he will be suspended for next month’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur in Group B.
To get Lenglet up to speed for this important clash, head coach Ernesto Valverde is planning to utilise him alongside Gerard Pique in some of the intervening top-flight fixtures.
Barca are due to play Girona, Leganes and Athletic Bilbao before October 3’s continental game at Wembley.
Lenglet started last month’s 2-1 victory against Sevilla in the Spanish Super Cup and had a nine-minute cameo against PSV. His one run-out in the top flight lasted for 25 minutes during this month’s 8-2 thrashing of SD Huesca.
