FC Spartak Moskva defender Nicolás Pareja has been ruled out for a month with a hairline fracture of his right foot.

The 27-year-old damaged the first metatarsal bone while on international duty with Argentina earlier this month, though the full extent of the injury did not become apparent until he went for a second scan this week.

Pareja, who signed from RCD Espanyol in July last year, will now spend the next two weeks in his homeland before returning to Moscow to complete his recovery. As a result, the centre-back will miss both legs of the UEFA Europa League round of 16 tie with AFC Ajax on 10 and 17 March, as well as the start of the new domestic season.