It turns out that Álvaro Arbeloa's injury is more serious than initially believed. The full-back now faces at least two months on the sidelines, meaning his season is all but over and he could miss the World Cup too.

The player is expected to be able to return to action in mid-May at the very earliest, according to Spanish radio station 'Cope'.

While initial tests detected that he had a crack in his right kneecap, Arbeloa was only expected to be out for around three weeks. As it is, the ex-Liverpool man will be in the treatment room for substantially longer.