Thomas Vermaelen may need surgery to repair a hamstring injury.

Vermaelen has yet to make his Barcelona debut after coming over from Arsenal in a £15 million transfer.

“We don’t know if Vermaelen is now going to need surgery, we are studying the situation,” Barça’s sporting director, Andoni Zubizarreta, said, before Tuesday’s Champions League match at Apoel Nicosia. “We are worried for him and the medical staff are evaluating what is best.”

The 29-year-old sustained the injury playing against Russia at the World Cup in June.