Argentina midfielder Gago faces lengthy layoff

Buenos Aires, Sep 15: Boca Juniors and Argentina international midfielder Fernando Gago faces up to six months on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Club officials said on Monday the operation had been a success but ruled out the 29-year-old returning this year, reports Xinhua.

The former Real Madrid player suffered the injury in the opening seconds of Boca Juniors' 1-0 defeat of fierce city rivals River Plate on Sunday.

His replacement, Nicolas Lodeiro, scored the goal that sent Boca two points clear at the top of Argentina's Primera Division standings. 

Gago will miss Argentina's opening 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador, Paraguay, Brazil and Colombia later this year.