Madrid, Nov 18 (IANS): Real Madrid have suffered an important injury setback with the confirmation Tuesday that the injury suffered by midfielder Luka Modric while playing for Croatia against Italy is much worse than at first feared.

It was originally thought Modric had torn a quadriceps muscle while playing Sunday and would be sidelined for up to five weeks, but a scan carried out on his return to Madrid has shown damage to a tendon on his left leg and the midfielder will now be sidelined for between three and four months, reports Xinhua.

This means he will be out of action between 12 and 16 weeks and will not return to action until February 2015.

Although that means Modric should be fit to return for the knockout stages of the Champions League, he will miss between 20-25 games, starting with this weekend' s trip to face Eibar.

He will also miss the World Club Championship, which Real Madrid will play in Morocco in December and the majority of the rounds in the King' s Cup knockout competition.

"I felt an important pain high up on my thigh and it still hurts. It is a shame, but sometimes football is like that," Modric said Tuesday.

The Croatian has been a key player for his side this season, sharing midfield duties with German Tony Kroos as Real Madrid have adapted a more passing style of football. His absence could open the door for Sami Khedira to return to the side, although the Real Madrid coach, Carlo Ancelotti could opt to play the in-form Isco in a deeper role with Gareth Bale returning to the attack alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.