Barcelona confirms David Villa will be sidelined for up to five months with fractured tibia

Posted Friday, December 16, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

Barcelona has announced via its official website that David Villa will be sidelined for up to five months after sustaining a fractured tibia in Thursday's Club World Cup semifinal victory against Al Sadd.

It was initially feared that the striker would spend six months on the sidelines after picking up an injury in the first half of the contest, which his side won 4-0.

Such scenario would rule him out of the rest of the club campaign, and could cost him a place in Spain's Euro 2012 squad.

However, further tests at the Rosai Hospital in Yokohama have revealed that the striker has an estimated layoff of four to five months.

Villa is currently on a plane to Barcelona, where he will undergo surgery on the problem in the coming days.

This is the first injury that has affected the 30-year-old since he joined the club from Valencia in 2010.

Earlier on Thursday, Barca sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta was noncomittal when asked if he club planned to sign a replacement for the striker, who has scored nine goals in all competitions this season.