Former Livingston goalkeeper gets cancer all-clear to return to Wales qualifiers

Barden had surgery to remove the tumour following his diagnosis which was made while on loan in West Lothian from Norwich City last season, and underwent a course of chemotherapy at the Royal Marsden Hospital.

The 21-year-old had three-week treatment cycles in London before Christmas, and he has now been given the all clear to rejoin Paul Bodin's squad for Euro 2023 qualifiers against Holland and Gibraltar next month.

"Initially I thought it would be nothing more than a cyst but when I was told it was a tumour and I would need surgery, there's not much that can prepare you for that," Barden said in an interview with the official Norwich website. "One of the important things I've been told numerous times is that I caught this about as early as was possible, which is hugely important in terms of prognosis.

"Looking back on everything that has happened, I feel more at ease and relaxed."

Barden's condition was made public just days after it was announced that senior Wales international David Brooks had been diagnosed with stage two Hodgkin lymphoma. The Bournemouth forward announced he was cancer free earlier this month, although it is not known when he will return to action.

The goalkeeper is in contention for Wales' final Euro 2023 qualifiers against Gibraltar and the Netherlands. He played once during his loan with David Martindale’s cinch Prmeiership side, a 3-1 Premier Sports Cup win over Cowdenbeath.