Tuesday operation for Andersson

FC Barcelona defender Patrik Andersson faces faces a further ten weeks out after injuring his knee in Saturday's 3-2 home win against RC Deportivo La Coruña.

New injury
Andersson, who played his first 90 minutes in two months last Wednesday when Sweden held Greece to 2-2 draw in Thessaloniki, crashed into Diego Tristán and sustained a knock to his left knee and thigh just ten minutes into his comeback following a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Tuesday operation
Barcelona said in a statement on Monday that the player will have an operation on Tuesday after tests revealed ligament damage in his left knee. He is expected to return to Primera División action late in the season and will travel to the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals if fully fit.

Anxious wait
"It was painful, but in that situation you have to clench your teeth and show the right spirit," he said. "I wanted to continue because it was a very important match but simply couldn't." Andersson had been out of action since mid-December with a neck injury after colliding with RC Celta de Vigo's Catanha.