Barcelona have revealed that Thomas Vermaelen will spend "approximately six weeks" on the sidelines with the injury that he picked up while representing Belgium on Friday night.

Vermaelen played in Barcelona's 1-1 draw with Valencia before the international break due to Samuel Umtiti's absence.

The 32-year-old would have been looking for a run in the team over the next few weeks, but he is now expected to miss at least one and a half months of football with "an injury to the biceps femoris of his right leg".

"Medical tests carried out this Monday confirmed that Barca defender Thomas Vermaelen has suffered an injury to the biceps femoris of his right leg. He will be out approximately six weeks," read a statement from Barcelona.

Vermaelen picked up the injury in Belgium's UEFA Nations League clash with Switzerland on Friday night.

The experienced central defender has been plagued by fitness concerns since arriving at Camp Nou in 2014.