Athletic Club Bilbao midfielder Benat Etxebarria is sidelined due to an ‘acute infectious process’ following a high fever, according to reports in Spain.
It is unclear as to how long the illness will sideline the midfielder from action but he is certain to miss the weekend trip to Eibar in a Basque derby.
Dani Garcia, formerly of Eibar, now will need a new central midfield partner with Raul Garcia and Unai Nunez – a natural central defender – the favourites to fill the role.
Benat, 31, has started five matches in this season’s La Liga to date.
