Spain playmaker Xavi Hernandezis a major doubt for Friday’s World Cup Group I qualifier at home to Finland after he missed Tuesday’s training session due to a niggling hamstring injury.
The Barcelona midfielder has been sidelined several times by muscle problems in recent months and the 33-year-old was absent for the La Liga leaders’ 3-1 victory at home to Rayo Vallecano on Sunday before joining up with the world and European champions in Madrid.
Coach Vicente del Bosque is unlikely to risk him against Finland in Gijon in the hope he is fit for Tuesday’s crunch clash against France in Paris.
“We all know Xavi and he is a player who gives us a lot of control in the middle,” winger Jesus Navas told a post-training news conference on Tuesday.
“But we have players who can take his place in that position and we hope he is back with us again soon,” he added.