LONDON (Reuters) – Newcastle United centre back Fabricio Coloccini will be out for up to seven weeks after breaking bones in his back, manager Alan Pardew said on Thursday.

The 31-year-old defender has returned to his native Argentina after sustaining the injury when he fell awkwardly during the club’s 4-2 Premier League win over Southampton on February 24.

Metalist Kharkiv's Marlos (L) fights for the ball with Newcastle United's Fabricio Coloccini during their Europa League soccer match at the Metalist stadium in Kharkiv, February 21, 2013. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

"Colo has gone back to Argentina," Pardew was quoted as saying by local media.

"There’s no treatment he can have – he’s broken two of the bones in his back. We think it’s going to be anything between three and seven weeks. He’s gone back for a week."

Coloccini pledged to stay with Newcastle until the end of the season after seeking a move away in January.

He will now miss both legs of Newcastle’s Europa League last-16 clash against Anzhi Makhachkala as well as a string of important Premier League matches for the side, who are 15th in the table.

(Reporting by Toby Davis; editing by Clare Fallon)

Related posts:

• Coloccini staying at Newcastle for rest of season
• Newcastle’s Krul out for up to five weeks
• Fulham’s Ruiz out for five weeks with hamstring injury
• Debuchy set for debut in Newcastle’s stretched defence
• Knee injury rules Rooney out for two or three weeks