MADRID, March 15 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona confirmed on Thursday that their Spanish international midfielder Segio Busquets will be out of action for around three weeks as the result of a foot injury he suffered on Wednesday night.

Busquets had to limp out of Barca's 3-0 win at home over Chelsea after receiving a blow to his right foot.

Tests carried out on Thursday morning showed he has suffered a fracture on his fifth metatarsal bone (little toe) and that he will be out of action for around three weeks.

Consequently Busquets will miss this weekend's La Liga fixture against Athletic Club Bilbao and will be unavailable for Spain's forthcoming friendlies against Argentina and Germany.

He will also miss the difficult away game against Sevilla on March 31 and will struggle to be fit for the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals the following week.

Busquets is the lynchpin of the Barcelona midfield, using his experience to provide defensive cover and also to start attacks from deep.

Although Lionel Messi gains most of his side's headlines, nobody should doubt Busquets' importance, his injury is a big loss.