Suarez out 4 months after undergoing knee surgery

Luis Suarez is expected to miss four months of action after undergoing keyhole surgery to repair the external meniscus of his right knee, Barcelona announced Sunday.

The timeframe means Suarez will miss the majority of what’s left in the 2019-20 season, including Barcelona’s upcoming Champions League tie against Napoli.

Suarez was on a tear prior to the injury. He scored six goals and recorded 10 assists in his last 10 appearances and played the full 90 minutes of the Spanish Super Cup semifinal against Atletico Madrid on Friday.

The 32-year-old required surgery on the same knee last May. He missed Barcelona’s final two matches of the season and the Copa del Rey final but returned in time to play for Uruguay at the 2019 Copa America.

He’s made 23 appearances across all competitions this season, scoring 14 goals.

Antoine Griezmann will now have a chance to lead the line after spending his first few months at the club out of position on the wing. Manager Ernesto Valverde could also afford more playing time to 17-year-old Ansu Fati, who became the youngest scorer in Champions League history with a strike against Inter in December.