Xavi pain for Spain

FC Barcelona midfield player Xavi Hernández is to undergo surgery next week to correct a shoulder injury.

International absence
The 23-year-old international is unlikely to play again this season, and will miss Spain's friendly international against Ecuador at Club Atlético de Madrid's Vicente Calderón stadium on Wednesday.

Several dislocations
Xavi Hernández, who scored for Barcelona on Wednesday as they were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League by Juventus FC at the quarter-final stage, has dislocated his shoulder several times in recent weeks, and club medical staff decided to operate on the player to correct the problem.

Injury worries
Barcelona have had a number of injury problems, with midfield player Luis Enrique, who has damaged his knee, and defender Carlos Puyol who is struggling with a thigh strain. Both are doubtful for Sunday’s Primera Divisón game with Real Sociedad, but captain Philip Cocu is available again after suffering a knee ligament injury in February.

Precarious position
Barcelona currently lie in 12th position in the league, five points adrift of a UEFA Cup place and seven above the relegation zone.