FC Barcelona defender Abelardo Fernández has suffered another setback as he battles back to fitness.

Torn muscle
The 31-year-old defender has damaged a muscle in his right thigh on his way back to full training after nearly a year out with a knee injury suffered in an international friendly against England. Abelardo, capped 54 times by Spain, will be unable to train with the rest of the squad for at least ten days.

World Cup threat
Abelardo will need to make a return to the Barcelona team soon if he is to have any chance of forcing his way into Spain’s plans for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He has represented his country at the previous two World Cup finals

Good record
Despite Abelardo’s absence, Barcelona have had a good defensive record in this season’s Primera División although they are off the pace at the top in seventh place. However the club are going well in the UEFA Champions League, having made it through to the second group stage.