Frenkie de Jong says he’s ready to go for Barcelona after his knee injury and has also taken aim at the criticism he has received while out injured.

The midfielder has been unable to play so far this season for Barcelona due to a knee injury picked up at the World Cup but says he understands why some fans have been frustrated by his situation.

“It has always been the case that most of the criticism directed at me – or most of the noise – always comes at the moments when I am not there, when I cannot play football,” he told Ziggo Sport.

“Of course I understand where that comes from. Fans do see me playing with the national team, but that is not the team they support. I understand that feeling if you look at it simply. That I play until the last match at the World Cup and then suddenly I’m out for three months afterwards.

“I am the one for whom it is the most annoying, along with the club. I just want to play and that wasn’t possible. And here that is annoying, as all kinds of stories get out there, but ultimately it went well. I feel good now and I am ready.”

De Jong has now been cleared to play for Barcelona and is looking forward to getting back to what he does best, adding: “I feel very good. I’ve just returned from that injury, but I feel great and I’m ready.

“I have obviously been out for a long time. But I feel really good. We’ll see on Sunday, but I hope I get some minutes again.”

The midfielder is not expected to start against Real Madrid on Sunday but could enjoy his first minutes of the campaign off the bench at Camp Nou.