MADRID, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona's injury problems continue to worsen with the confirmation that French international winger Ousmane Dembele will be out of action for up to six weeks with a left hamstring injury.

The winger ended Friday's 1-0 opening day defeat to Athletic Bilbao in difficulty and the extent of the injury has now been confirmed by the club's medical staff.

It is not the first time that Dembele has had problems with his leg, having missed several months of his first season at the club after tearing a tendon in his left hamstring against Getafe in 2017.

Dembele's injury leaves Barca coach Ernesto Valverde with problems in formulating his attack for Barca's next league game at home to Real Betis next weekend.

Lionel Messi is still recovering from a calf injury he suffered in pre-season and may or may not be fit to face Betis, while Luis Suarez is out for around three to four weeks after suffering a calf injury in Bilbao, while Philippe Coutinho is no longer at the club after the confirmation of his loan deal to Bayern Munich.

That leaves just summer signing Antoine Griezmann as a specialist striker for Valverde, who will be crossing his fingers that Messi recovers in time, but may opt to give a start to youngster Carles Perez, who made his league debut in the Bilbao defeat.

Meanwhile, the Spanish press continue to speculate over whether or not Brazil's Neymar will return to Barcelona before the close of the transfer window, with some newspapers insisting the club will make a formal offer for the Paris Saint-Germain forward this week. Enditem

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