Barcelona, Netherlands Star Frenkie de Jong To Miss 6 Weeks With Right Leg Injury

Just as Barcelona coach Hansi Flick seemed to be navigating through a busy schedule with a nearly full complement of players, he has been hit with some bad news regarding Frenkie de Jong.

The Dutch international was forced to withdraw from the team's latest training session after feeling significant discomfort. The club has now released an injury report to confirm the problem and how much time the midfielder will miss.

The 28-year-old sustained a hamstring injury on Thursday and now faces a significant spell on the sidelines. It is a devastating blow for a player who recently re-affirmed his commitment to the Catalan giants, and this setback comes at the worst possible time for Barcelona. As the season enters its most critical phase across domestic and European competitions, Flick is left with a tactical headache to solve in the middle of the park.

Barcelona confirmed De Jong will miss six weeks in a statement: "First-team player Frenkie de Jong sustained an injury to the distal biceps of his right leg during this morning’s training session. Medical tests have confirmed that the expected recovery period will be approximately five to six weeks."

(Getty Images Sport)

De Jong will now be absent for a gruelling run of fixtures. The midfielder will miss some key games, including the high-stakes second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final against Atletico Madrid. Furthermore, he will be unavailable for both legs of the Champions League round of 16, where Barca are set to face either Paris Saint-Germain or Newcastle United. In La Liga, the Blaugrana will have to navigate tricky encounters against Villarreal, Athletic Club, Sevilla and Rayo Vallecano without their primary deep-lying playmaker.

This injury represents a significant