Manchester United striker Radamel Falcao will miss Colombia's international friendlies against the U.S. and Slovenia as concern over his injury problems grows.
Falcao has been sidelined for United's last four games with a calf problem, and has not started a club game since Oct. 5, when he scored his only United goal so far in the 2-1 home win over Everton.
The 28-year-old, who sat out the World Cup with a cruciate ligament injury suffered in January, was pictured after the Everton match with an ice pack on his left knee.
United signed Falcao on a season-long loan from Monaco on the final day of the summer transfer window.
Contrary to reports, United have neither decided to buy Falcao on a permanent deal -- which would cost around 44 million pounds -- when his loan spell expires in the summer nor concluded that they will not.
However, his chances of earning a longer-term move will be lessened if he is sidelined.
With Falcao out, United manager Louis van Gaal has changed the team's shape and is now fielding only one out-and-out striker, meaning he may have to decide between Falcao and Robin van Persie when both are available again.
In Falcao's absence, Teofilo Gutierrez, Jackson Martinez, Adrian Ramos, Carlos Bacca and Yimmi Chara are the strikers in Colombia manager Jose Pekerman's squad for the friendlies.