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Villarreal's Giovani dos Santos set to miss 4 weeks through injury

Mexico international Giovani dos Santos may not play again for Villarreal this season, with the club confirming on Monday that he has suffered a Grade 1 strain in his right thigh.

Dos Santos, 25, was named in Villarreal's starting team to face Cordoba in La Liga on Sunday, but pulled up in the warm-up and was replaced by Nigerian Ikechukwu Uche.

The former Barcelona forward has already had an injury hit season and has started just 14 of Villarreal's 32 league matches.

Although the club didn't give an estimated recovery period, reports have suggested it could be around one month, which would mean it is possible his season is at an end, with Villarreal's final game in La Liga away at Athletic Bilbao on May 23.

The injury could also affect Dos Santos' role this summer for the Mexican national team, with coach Miguel Herrera set to name his provisional Copa America squad on May 11. El Tri are also involved in CONCACAF's Gold Cup, which begins in July.