Barcelona defender Eric Abidal returned to training with his team-mates on Wednesday for the first time since undergoing a liver transplant in April, the club said.

The French international underwent the liver transplant operation on 10 April just over a year after having a tumour removed from his liver in March 2011.

"This Wednesday, the defender returned to training with the rest of his team-mates," Barcelona said in a statement.

Abidal, who had been training separately, including at a mountain camp in the Catalan Pyrenees, has not played for the Spanish league leaders since 26 February. He last played in France's 2-1 victory over Germany on 29 February this year.

His recovery was overshadowed, however, by an announcement that Barcelona's coach Tito Vilanova faces a cancer operation today.

Vilanova was not present at the training session.