Barcelona starlet Alejandro Balde faces surgery and lengthy lay-off after suffering hamstring injury in Copa del Rey quarter-final

The teenage full-back was in tears as he hobbled off the pitch in the first half of Barca's Copa del Rey clash with Athletic Club. It has since emerged that Balde sustained a serious hamstring injury, and is set to miss the rest of the season if he undergoes surgery.

The injury leaves the Blaugrana shorthanded at left-back. Marcos Alonso is currently out, while Joao Cancelo is in the early stages of recovering from an injury of his own. Xavi entrusted youngster Hector Fort with heavy minutes on Wednesday night.

Xavi has regularly turned to Barca's famed La Masia academy for cover this season. Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez have been regulars, while Fort and Pau Cubarsi have come into the picture in recent weeks. The Blaugrana started two 16-year-olds against Real Betis last weekend.

The left-back will make a decision on whether to have an operation imminently. If he does, his season will be over and he will face a race against time to be fit for Euro 2024.