Barca finds solution on 'one-position' problem

Dembele is facing another three months out with a hamstring injury suffered on his first league start in September since his summer move from Borrusia Dortmund.

Barca have tried several players in his absence, including Gomes in a 1-1 draw at Atletico Madrid on Saturday.

The coaching staff at Barcelona feel Andre Gomes is the player at Barcelona who can have a bigger impact if he gets to his potential than anybody else in the side," he said.

Everybody else is more or less at the level you expect, but they think Andre Gomes can go three steps further and help the side in many ways.

"They have high expectations for him and they recognise that when he first arrived he was on the floor, lacking in confidence, and he needs to be looked after in a different way. They expect at some point he will hit form."

Gomes, 24, started on the right against Atletico as Ernesto Valverde looks to figure out how to best set up his side in the absence of Dembele.

Valverde is being faced with a dilemma with one position," said Sky Sports' Gibson. "Dembele would have been the answer if he was fit. In his absence, we have seen [Gerard] Deulofeu, Gomes, Sergi Roberto, Aleix Vidal and Denis Suarez there.

"Obviously he hasn't found the right solution. Gomes is young and there is room for improvement. He hasn't reached the heights he did at Valencia. I thought he could be a really good signing."

Barca's draw at Atletico was the first points they have dropped in La Liga this season, but they remain top of the table, four points ahead of Valencia in second.

They face a tricky run of fixtures over the next month as they play Athletic Bilbao, Sevilla and Valencia in La Liga as well as competing in the Champions League.

And Balague said the results could play a part in dictating what Barca do in the transfer market in January.

"I do think there are doubts, including in the coaching team, and they want to see how this month goes," he said.

"They have Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla, then we will see if they get the points they need. If they do then they might get rid of three or four players in January and bring in one or two and try to improve that way, but they need to improve a third of the squad."