Barcelona Reveals Frenkie De Jong's Injury Timeline: How Long Will Star Midfielder Be Sidelined?

Barcelona's injury woes persist in the early campaign as Frenkie de Jong has departed the Netherlands squad prematurely.

De Jong sustained an injury during the Netherlands' match against Poland, featuring Robert Lewandowski. The central midfielder was ruled out of the Netherlands' second September World Cup qualifying fixture and returned to Barcelona for additional medical evaluation.

On Monday, Barcelona issued an official statement regarding De Jong's condition. "[De Jong] has sustained a minor injury to the external obturator muscle [groin] in his right leg. His return will depend on his recovery progress," the club announced.

Netherlands head coach and former Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman indicated he didn't consider De Jong's injury particularly severe. However, fielding him against Lithuania during the weekend would have been "too risky."

While Barcelona hasn't provided a specific recovery timeframe, reports from Mundo Deportivo suggest Hansi Flick will take a careful approach with De Jong, potentially ruling him out of Barça's upcoming encounter against Valencia this Sunday.

The expectation is that De Jong will be ready for Barcelona's trip to Newcastle United in their Champions League league phase debut on Thursday, Sept. 18.

Nevertheless, Barcelona may face a severely depleted midfield for the Valencia fixture. Gavi is experiencing discomfort in the same knee that previously suffered an ACL rupture, and his participation in the upcoming match remains highly questionable.

Should De Jong also be sidelined, Marc Casadó seems to be the sole viable candidate to partner with Pedri in Barcelona's central midfield. Marc Bernal is approaching his return from an ACL injury recovery but may not be ready for the Valencia clash.

The adaptable Eric Garcia could potentially slot into midfield as he did previously, though he represents a last-resort option that Flick would only consider if Casadó is also unavailable.

The shortage of alternatives might influence Barcelona's decision to exercise caution with De Jong, ensuring he's completely fit for the journey to St. James' Park.