Torres injury adds to Xavi's Barca woes

FC Barcelona's injury worries got worse on Wednesday night with the confirmation that Spain international forward Ferran Torres will be out of action for at least a month after suffering a hamstring injury, reported Xinhua.

The striker, who has netted 10 goals in all competitions this season, suffered the injury in just the fourth minute of his side's 1-0 win at home to Osasuna and had to be helped off the pitch in tears.

Torres was taken directly from the former Olympic Stadium, where Barcelona are playing this season, before the end of the game for preliminary tests, which confirmed the injury.

The club has so far failed to put a date on his recovery, but a torn hamstring will need at least a month to recover from, meaning he will probably miss Barca's Champions League last-16 tie against Napoli, along with several La Liga games.

The injury comes at a bad time for Barca coach Xavi Hernandez, with the man, who announced he will step down from his job at the end of the current season, already without Raphinha, Sergi Roberto, Marc Andre Ter Stegen, Inigo Martinez, Gavi, Marcos Alonso, Alejandro Balde and Joao Felix through injury, with only Martinez likely to return in the next fortnight.

Barcelona's next La Liga game is away to Alaves on Saturday, and Xavi may also have to rest central defenders Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen, both of whom have been playing despite physical issues in recent matches.