Comeback kid Fernando Torres back on song

There are several compelling reasons for people to be smiling down by the banks of the Manzanares right now. Atletico Madrid's Liga BBVA title dreams have been given a shot in the arm after they closed to within three points of table-topping FC Barcelona, with Antoine Griezmann having notched on seven straight matchdays and Koke in sublime form against RCD Espanyol this past weekend. However, it is the resurgence of another player, Fernando Torres, that has struck the biggest chord with many Rojiblancos fans.

The striker from nearby Fuenlabrada joined Atletico's youth ranks as an 11-year-old and forced his way into the first-team set-up at the age of just 17, earning the nickname El Niño (The Kid) for his prodigious exploits. After making his debut against CD Leganes on 27 May 2001, the fresh-faced star's first senior goal came just a week later. He opened his account against Albacete and his legend was born.

Although Torres eventually left for England in 2007, he did so vowing to come back one day. Seven seasons passed until, true to his word, he returned to his beloved Atleti in January 2015, hungry to help the club to more success. The emotion of his homecoming brought tears to his eyes as he was reunited with the Vicente Calderon faithful, who chant his name in every game and watch on with delight every time their favourite son shines.

Following an up-and-down start to his second coming, the forward has been positively reborn in recent weeks. After getting the monkey off his back by hitting his 100th goal for Atletico against SD Eibar, putting an end to a long drought, he seems to have kept his scoring boots within reach so that he doesn't mislay them again.

The marksman is now on seven Liga BBVA goals for the campaign, having netted in his last two league outings. What's more, he was everywhere in the 3-1 comeback win over Espanyol this past Saturday: besides bagging the equaliser, he clattered the bar with another attempt and set up Koke's clincher. Torres is truly back firing on all cylinders in time for the final furlong.