Puyol to go under knife

Spain and Barcelona defender Carles Puyol will go under the knife on Wednesday for a knee operation after an injury-ravaged season, the club said on Tuesday on their website.

Puyol had to miss the Champions League last 16 return match against Arsenal in early March and only returned in mid-April to face Real Madrid only to suffer further injury.

He did feature against Real in the Champions League semi finals but started the final win over Manchester United on the bench and played just the final three minutes.

The 33-year-old club stalwart, three times a Champions League winner, will have the op at the Quiron clinic in the Catalan city.