Midfielder Aaron Ramsey is making good progress in his recovery from a double fracture, according to Wales assistant manager Dean Saunders.

The 19-year-old's horrific injury was caused by a reckless tackle by Stoke City's Ryan Shawcross. Ramsey is now four months into his recovery.

Ramsey has progressed to the next step of his rehabilitation process, now running for the first time since suffering his injury.

Saunders, who is pleased with the progress Ramsey has made, said: "Aaron is running now and just needs the pin taken out at some stage.

"That's a decision he will make soon when he's ready, but from what I've heard he's progressing brilliantly and it shouldn't be too long.

"It's important for him, Arsenal and Wales to get back playing as he's a great talent who should be showing us that on the football pitch."

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Pedro hopes Cesc Fabregas will sign for Barcelona and believes the Arsenal midfielder would adapt very quickly to life back at Camp Nou.


Pedro and Fabregas are currently away with the Spain squad at the World Cup and the Barca youngster says his international team-mate is focused only on the national's side campaign in South Africa at the moment, but he hopes a deal can be reached.

"Cesc is doing fantastically," he told Marca. "He's thinking only about the national team and he's relaxed. Of course I would like to have him at Barca. He has been playing away (from Spain) for a long time, he knows the club and he would adapt quickly."

Barca have made Fabregas their main target this summer and have had an initial €35 million bid for the Arsenal captain turned down by the Gunners.

The Catalans have signed one Spain player in the current window, though, with the arrival of striker David Villa. Villa, who scored both goals and missed a penalty as Spain beat Honduras 2-0 on Monday, arrived in a big-money deal from Valencia prior to the World Cup.

"He's a great player, a great striker who scores lots of goals," Pedro said. "His movement is very good and he will adapt very quickly to the team. He'll be great. His arrival is extraordinary news for us."

Pedro, meanwhile, hailed Barca coach Guardiola for his own meteoric rise in the last two years.

The young forward played under Guardiola in the third tier of Spanish football for Barca B just two years ago, but established himself as a key player for the club's first team last year and became the only player from any side to score in all six major competitions in one season. The 22-year-old capped a marvellous season by forcing his way into Spain's World Cup squad.

"I have been able to make it as a player because of Guardiola and the confidence he placed in me," he said. "I have worked with enthusiasm and desire, but Pep has given me playing time and always supported me.

"I believe that without his help, all of this would be impossible. He has turned me into a footballer and that has allowed me to get to the World Cup - without Guardiola I wouldn't have got to the national team."