Valencia's David Silva is unlikely to play this year after damaging knee ligaments during a match with Real Mallorca.

Silva limped out of the 1-1 draw after just 29 minutes and, after undergoing tests on Sunday, Valencia confirmed that the Spain international would be out for around four weeks.

That means the 23-year-old is set to miss a number of crucial matches, with Valencia facing Primera Division games against Athletic Bilboa, Real Madrid and Deportivo La Coruna before the Christmas break, as well as Europa League matches against Lille and Genoa.

Jordi Candel, Valencia's medical chief, said of the injury: "It could have been worse, with torn anterior cruciate ligaments, but the knee has been able to cope ok thanks to the preventative work done by the club physiotherapists. If the knee was not so well strengthened, it would have caused a tear."