Madrid  - Spanish football club Valencia announced on Monday that star striker David Villa will be out of action for around three weeks, after tearing a muscle in his right thigh in Sunday's 1-0 win away to Racing Santander.

Villa, 28, will miss Spain's final World Cup qualifying matches against Armenia and Bosnia, as well as Valencia's home game against Liga leaders Barcelona on October
18. Spain have already qualified for the 2010 World Cup finals.

Villa was top scorer at Euro 2008 and is currently the leading marksman in La Liga, with six goals. dpa