Barca defender Milito out for up to six weeks

Barcelona’s injury-plagued Argentine centre-back Gabriel Milito will be out for between four and six weeks after tearing a thigh muscle, the club announced on Thursday.

The Argentina international injured his right thigh in the first half of Barca’s 5-1 win at home to Ceuta in the King’s Cup on Wednesday evening.

“According to the prognosis of the medical team, he will be unavailable for between four and six weeks,” the Catalan giants said in a statement.

Milito’s absence causes immediate problems for coach Pep Guardiola, who will already be without suspended centre-back Gerard Pique for Saturday’s Spanish league game against Villarreal.

In Pique’s absence, French international Eric Abidal — who replaced Milito on Wednesday — is likely to be deployed alongside Carles Puyol at the heart of the Barcelona defence.

Milito, the younger brother of Inter Milan striker Diego, recently injured his right thigh in October.

He had previously spent a year and a half on the sidelines with a serious left knee injury, returning to action in November 2009.