By Cheryl Wood

SOME OF football’s biggest stars were being put through their paces in Fife last night as FC Barcelona began their second pre-season training camp in St Andrews.

Fans lined St Leonard’s Road to catch a glimpse of Thierry Henry, Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto’o as they trained with their team-mates at the St Andrews University playing fields.

A 48-strong contingent from the Catalan club—including players, coaching staff and physiotherapy and medical staff—had touched down on Scottish soil earlier in the day and was taken to the Old Course Hotel, its luxury base until Saturday.

There was also a handful of dedicated fans waiting outside the hotel to catch sight of the Spanish side. The fans included Guardbridge brothers William and David Kerr, who were hoping to see Henry, and football-loving great-grandmother Joyce Gray, who had travelled from Kirriemuir.

Those hoping to see Euro 2008 hero Xavi, and team mates Carles Puyol and Andres Iniesta, will have to wait until tomorrow, when they fly in to join the rest of the first-team squad.

As well as taking part in daily training sessions, the players— with new signings Alexander Hleb, Daniel Alves and Gerard Pique—will be playing matches against Dundee United and Hibernian.

Barcelona were full of praise for St Andrews and its facilities following their first ever pre- season training camp in Scotland this time last year.

Brazilian defender Sylvinho told Scots journalists and visiting Spanish journalists at a press conference in the Old Course Hotel before training that the players hoped to enjoy the same conditions this time.

He said, “We are very happy to be here in Scotland.

“There is tranquillity, there is a calm situation and we can work in very good conditions,” he said.

“The supporters here in Scotland are very warm people. We always have a very warm welcome and a very friendly approach from them.