RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan midfielder Yeferson Soteldo faces an extended period on the sidelines after suffering an injury while playing for Brazilian club Santos.

The 25-year-old will undergo surgery in Sao Paulo to repair a ruptured left pectoral tendon, and no timeframe has been given for his return.

The playmaker sustained the injury in the first half of Santos' 1-1 draw with Ferroviaria in the Sao Paulo championship last Saturday.

Soteldo, who has been capped 31 times for Venezuela, is in his second spell at Santos, having rejoined the club on loan from Mexico's Tigres last July.

He has scored 20 goals in 116 appearances across all competitions for the club.