Valencia have suffered a double injury setback before they embark on a testing six games in the next 21 days.
Midfielder David Albelda has a hamstring injury that will keep him out for at least three weeks, while Fernando Gago received a blow to the head in Argentina’s game with Peru on Tuesday and is under observation in a Lima hospital.
Los Che are due to face Celta Vigo, Real Mallorca, Real Zaragoza and Levante in La Liga and have Champions League fixtures against Bayern Munich and Lille, but injury to the pair could leave them woefully short in midfield.
It is a run of fixtures boss Mauricio Pellegrino may have to tackle with just 20 players at his disposal, including three goalkeepers, with Ever Banega and Sergio Canales already having been ruled out and Pablo Piatti added to the list this week with a fractured elbow.
Albelda, 35, will be subjected to tests on Wednesday to determine the exact period he will be sidelined, although an initial diagnosis has revealed the veteran could miss a minimum of three weeks, according to AS.
Pellegrino is now sweating on the rest of his internationals returning to Mestalla safe and sound following the break, although it seems increasingly likely he will have just two recognised first-team players, Tino Costa and Dani Parejo, to choose from in the midfield department against Celta at the weekend.
