Newcastle defender Sven Botman is set to have knee surgery and will be out of action for up to nine months.
A scan revealed the centre-back, 24, suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in Newcastle's 2-0 defeat at Manchester City on Saturday after limping off in the 83rd minute.
Botman has made 17 appearances in the Premier League this season having sustained a knee injury last September which ruled him out for nearly three months after he "elected for a non-surgical rehabilitation plan".
Botman's injury is another blow to manager Eddie Howe and their European qualification hopes - they currently sit four points behind seventh-placed West Ham.
He has struggled to regain the form of his first season on Tyneside, during which he played a key role in the club's top-four finish.
Botman told Sky Sports in January that he had played on with his previous knee injury without its full severity being known.
