The 44 year-old has temporarily stepped aside at the Nou Camp after it was confirmed he required a further operation on cancerous tissue near his parotid gland, having previously had saliva glands removed in November 2011.

Vilanova faces six weeks of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, with his assistant Jordi Roura assuming control of the first team, but the Barça coach was well enough to attend a training session on Wednesday.

A statement released on the Primera Division club's official Twitter feed read: ''Tito Vilanova came to the Ciudad Deportiva this morning and greeted the players who trained there.''

The news that their coach faced a second battle against cancer came on December 22, with Barcelona medical staff suggesting at the time that Vilanova could potentially combine his treatment with his first-team duties, should circumstances allow.

Club president Sandro Rosell revealed last week that he was optimistic Vilanova could return to work ''within two or three weeks''.