Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie is reportedly facing a minimum of six weeks on the sidelines due to the hamstring problem that he picked up against Viktoria Plzen on Tuesday night.
The 25-year-old was named in the starting XI for the Champions League fixture, which Barcelona won 4-2, but he had to be replaced in the 67th minute of the contest after picking up an injury.
"I think he has hurt his hamstring. He was playing a good game in the midfield position, winning duels, and was good at the start," Xavi told reporters after the match when questioned on the nature of the injury.
Meanwhile, according to journalist Javi Miguel, the problem is expected to keep the midfielder on the sidelines for at least six weeks, meaning that he is unlikely to represent Barcelona again until 2023.
Xavi's side have two more La Liga matches against Almeria and Osasuna on November 5 and November 8 respectively before the campaign is halted for the World Cup.
© Reuters
Barcelona will then not be back in action until December 30 against Espanyol, while their first match of 2023 will be away to Atletico Madrid on January 7.
Kessie plays his international football for Ivory Coast, but the Elephants did not qualify for the 2022 World Cup, meaning that the injury has not ruled him out of the competition.
The summer arrival's future at Camp Nou has recently been called into question, with a report claiming that he was already looking to leave the club in January due to his lack of starts this season.
AC Milan are thought to be keeping a close eye on their former player, who has only started five matches in all competitions for Barcelona during the 2022-23 campaign.
However, Kessie's agent recently insisted that there was no truth to the exit rumours.
© Reuters
"They are fake news, totally false," George Atangana told Mundo Deportivo. "Kessie is very happy at Barca. He's only been at the club for a few months and is still in the process of adapting to the team and the Barca style of play, which is different from other clubs, and, therefore, it takes time.
"Kessie will continue working to earn a place in the team. He is not a player who gives up easily. He had other offers in the summer and bet heavily on Barca."
The Ivorian scored 37 goals and registered 16 assists in 223 appearances for Milan before running down his contract at San Siro to move to Camp Nou on a free transfer.
Kessie has contributed one goal in 13 appearances for Barcelona in all competitions, with his first strike for the club coming against Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League back in September.
Matt Law
