'The prognosis is much more uncertain' - Huge Lamine Yamal concern for Barcelona as doctor delivers ominous verdict on latest injury blow

Yamal sustained an ankle injury during his team's 1-0 loss against Leganes in La Liga on Sunday and may be out for as long as a month. The latest setback comes less than a month since he recovered from a previous ankle issue.

The Catalan side said he had been diagnosed with a grade 1 injury to his ligaments, and Dr Ripoll, a surgeon specialising in football, believes the situation is not a simple one as he said the 17-year-old's situation may get worse if it is not allowed to heal completely.

"It's not a typical sprain, it's a much more specific injury, a slight tear of the membrane that joins the tibia to the fibula, which is known as syndesmosis," Dr Ripoll told Cadena SER. "The prognosis is much more uncertain."

He added: "He has played 80 per cent of the games and last year he reached 91%. [Barcelona] will do well to let him heal completely and without any rush... A diastasis can occur, which is the separation of the tibia and fibula due to the lack of this membrane, leaving the ankle in a very unstable state."

The winger has been a regular starter for club and country for some time and Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has pushed back on criticism for adding to the teenager's workload. Following the latest setback, Barca and La Roja may take a more careful approach with him as he recovers.