Why Barcelona Will Hand a Clasico Debut to Luis Suarez

Luis Suarez must be champing at the bit to pull on the Blaugrana and the expectation is that he will make his debut against Real Madrid in El Clasico.

After four long months on the sidelines Suarez needs games and although Barcelona have done more than adequately in his absence, the Catalans need the Uruguayan on the pitch.

The player himself has much to prove, of course.

At this juncture the wider footballing family are waiting for the next indiscretion, whereas Suarez surely wants to get those same supporters talking again about a skill set that is largely unmatched in the world game.

A compact whirling dervish of a player, Suarez really does have it all.

Thirty-one league goals last season placed him joint top of the European scoring charts alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, but he is about much more than just goals.

Very much a team player, his appreciation of space and those around him and an intense work ethic is what will mark him out.

Another polished free-kick exponent, Suarez gives Barca serious dead-ball options.

Munir El Haddadi has certainly taken his own chance with both hands but will benefit from a spell back out of the spotlight, as Suarez takes centre stage.

The man for the big occasion, where better to showcase his talent than in the playground of Barcelona's fiercest rivals.

As a foil also for Lionel Messi, too, Suarez fits the bill perfectly. Stop the Argentine and in some respects you stop Barca. Not anymore.

Like Messi, Suarez has an incredible will to deliver each and every time he steps onto a football pitch.

If we are to assume that Luis Enrique will station him on the right-hand side of the attack, then Marcelo has to curb his natural wanderlust.

Whether he will be able to do so for the full 90 minutes is questionable, and it's a fairly safe bet that Suarez will be focused and ready to pounce on any positional errors or lack of concentration from the Brazilian.

We only need watch a re-run of Germany's 7-1 demolition of the Selecao to understand where Suarez might benefit.

Although there may be question marks over a lack of match fitness, Suarez has still turned out for both Barca and Uruguay in friendly games and has also trained everyday since his ban was reviewed by CAS.

He could well be very slightly off the pace but the only way to reach peak fitness is to get games under your belt. And an 80 percent fit Suarez is surely better than no Suarez at all.

His inclusion will give Luis Enrique some tactical variation and Carlo Ancelotti nightmares. Supposedly Real Madrid are contemplating changing their normal 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2 in order to be able to keep Messi quiet.

Throw Suarez into the melting pot and Los Blancos have to think again. And we haven't even mentioned Neymar on the left side.

A truly world-class front three, one to rival Madrid's own.

Regardless of this being a game that Suarez has to be seen to play in, it will be a studious decision to have him on the pitch.

It could well be the decision that wins Luis Enrique his first El Clasico as a manager.