LONDON -- Chelsea midfielder Yossi Benayoun is facing a long spell on the sidelines after the Israeli FA revealed that he has a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Benayoun suffered what was initially believed to be a torn calf muscle in a Carling Cup defeat to Newcastle on September 22 and he was expected to miss up to three weeks.

But now that he has joined up with the Israeli national team for a pair of upcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers with Croatia and Greece, the national team's medical staff has discovered a more serious Achilles injury that will likely keep him out of action for several months.

The 30-year-old Benayoun joined Chelsea from Liverpool over the summer for $8 million and he has made three substitute appearances for the Blues in league play, while starting in the club's Champions League win over MSK Zilina last month.