Barca’s Valdes Sidelined For Six Weeks

[Folami David]

Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes will be sidelined for six weeks after injuring his right calf in Spain's humbling 1-0 defeat to South Africa, the club said on Wednesday.
.
The 31-year-old Valdes's problem adds to growing injury woes at Barcelona, with four-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi heading a lengthening list on the treatment table.
.
Medical tests in Barcelona on Wednesday confirmed that Valdes had a torn right calf, the club said in a statement.
.
"The approximate time off is about six weeks," Barcelona said.
.
Valdes injured himself while he was striding backwards towards the goalmouth during Spain's loss in Johannesburg on Tuesday, a deflating return to the site of their 2010 World Cup victory.
.
Spain's national squad medical services had already diagnosed a torn calf. But further tests were needed to decide how long he would need to recover.
.
Valdes, who has been in great form, has revealed plans to leave the Spanish champions when his current contract expires in 2014.
.
During his recovery, Valdes will likely be replaced at his club by veteran Jose Manuel Pinto.
.
Barcelona announced this month that the 26-year-old Messi would be sidelined for six to eight weeks with a muscle tear in his left hamstring muscle, his third leg injury this season.
.
Picking up his third Golden Shoe award on Wednesday as the top league scorer in Europe for his 46 goals in the 2012-2013 season, Messi said he was "getting better little by little and luckily there is no more pain".
.
As for his return to action, "it all depends on how things go. I will be back, but I will not put a date on when," he added.
.
"My aim is to come back and strengthen my whole body so that nothing goes wrong and I can play without worrying."
.
Adding to Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino's headaches, Cristian Tello, who sprained his right ankle, and Xavi Hernandez, with a strained muscle in his right leg, have both been declared doubtful for Saturday's match against Granada in the Camp Nou.

[Nifemi Donald]

Barcer should have a good replacement for this one. It is needed