BARCELONA Barcelona's 22-year-old right-back Carles Puyol will be out of action for around three months after undergoing surgery on a knee injury, the club said on Wednesday.

Puyol has been a first-team regular since returning from Sydney, where he helped Spain to the silver medal in the Olympics.

He was subsequently rewarded with a first full international cap in a friendly against the Netherlands.

The cartilage injury in his right knee flared up after last week's 3-0 victory over Gandia in the King's Cup.

(Reuter)