FCBARCELONA.CAT

22.01.2009 13:50

Márquez, out for one or two weeks

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Tests today on the Mexican player, who was substituted at Montjuïc as a precaution, have cast aside any fears that he has a new muscle injury. He has merely strained a soleus muscle.

Rafa Márquez was subjected to echography and resonance at the Hospital de Barcelona and no serious damage to his left soleus muscle has been observed. The left back has merely strained it and should be fine after one or two weeks of rest.

Doctor Ricard Pruna speaks

“We have made some tests because he ended the game with pain in his soleus muscle. Medical exploration has revealed an increase in muscular tone and there could be a minor injury. We performed echography at the Ciudad Deportiva and the results were normal and after came to the Hospital for resonance treatment and the results were also normal. All we have been able to detect are the scars of old injuries, which have probably caused the strain to this muscle, but there is no new muscular injury.”

“There is no need to worry. It was very wise of him to come off. We know just how the soleus can wear.”

“Knowing that there is no injury, we would predict a minimum of one week for him to regain confidence and bring down the muscular tone. But two weeks might be more welcome. We have to observe how the player feels.”