Lazio's on-form attacking midfielder Felipe Anderson has been sidelined for at least three weeks with knee ligament damage, the Serie A club announced on Thursday.

Brazilian Anderson had been enjoying a purple patch recently, scoring five goals and making five assists in his past five league matches with the capital club, who have moved up to third in Italy's top flight.

However the 21-year-old, formerly of Santos, is set to miss upcoming games against Napoli, Milan, Cesena and Genoa.

A statement by the club said: "At training this morning... Felipe Anderson suffered a left knee sprain with damage to the collateral medial ligament.

"Scans this afternoon did not reveal any damage to the menicus. The player will have to observe a three-week period of rest and recovery."

The news comes days after reports from Brazil which claimed Anderson's father, Sebastiao Tome Gomes, had been arrested on charges of manslaughter.

The report claimed Gomes turned himself in to Brazilian police after allegedly killing a love rival, who was riding a motorbike, after chasing him in his car.

Both drivers allegedly then lost control of their vehicles and crashed into a nearby house, killing the motorbike rider and a 61-year-old woman.