Newcastle captain Coloccini facing seven-week absence with back injury

07-Mar-2013 8:41:00 PM

The centre-back has returned to Argentina to be assessed by the national side's medical team after he broke two bones in his back during an acrobatic clearance

Newcastle United captain Fabricio Coloccini could face up to seven weeks on the sidelines after breaking two bones in his back.

The centre-back suffered the injury while acrobatically clearing the ball during Newcastle's 4-2 win over Southampton at St James' Park on February 24 and has not featured for the club since.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has confirmed the 31-year-old has returned to Argentina to be assessed by the national side’s medical team, and could be out until May.

"Colo has gone back to Argentina,” Pardew told reporters. “There's no treatment he can have, he's broken two of the bones in his back.

"We think it's going to be anything between three and seven weeks. He's gone back for a week."

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