Toure could be missing for up to a month

Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure could be out of action for a month because of a back injury.

Toure, who plays for Spanish giants Barcelona, will undergo a special recovery program to heal a slipped disc.

"The more conservative treatment has not achieved the desired results so from today he will be given peridural injections," the club said.

Barcelona are already without defender Rafael Marquez because of a foot injury, while midfielder Deco missed Sunday's 2-1 home loss to Villarreal with a calf strain.

Toure, who has scored once in 18 league games, joined Barcelona from French club Monaco for US$12m in the off-season.

Barcelona are second in the Spanish league with 51 points, with rivals Real Madrid leading with 59.