Javier Mascherano has said that the qualities displayed by Luis Suarez this season remind him of former Barcelona forward Samuel Eto'o.

Suarez has been a key player for Barcelona since leaving Liverpool for Camp Nou last summer, scoring 21 goals in all competitions, and Mascherano believes that the Uruguayan is similar to one of the club's former stars.

"He is the closest thing I have seen in years to Eto'o. They have the same characteristics, they are fighters. He's helped us to defend from the front," the Argentine told reporters.

"He is a very humble person, he works hard and I've hit it off with him not just on the pitch but away from the field as well.

"I think he's been phenomenal and he's helped to release [Lionel] Messi. Now we have a more fixed, central number nine which allows Leo the freedom to go deep, more so than when he was a false nine."

Barcelona visit Cordoba in La Liga on Saturday afternoon.