Corry Evans is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after it was revealed he suffered a fractured skull and shattered eye socket playing for Blackburn Rovers last weekend.
The Northern Ireland midfielder was stretchered off during Blackburn's EFL Championship clash against Preston North End.
Evans was caught by a high boot from Tom Clarke and required several minutes of treatment on the pitch before leaving with an oxygen mask on.
“Corry’s not a good story," Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray said.
"He was in hospital for a few days with his family close by. He’s had scans and x-rays. Ultimately he's fractured the front part of his skull and has shattered all around his eye socket.
“We’ve been with Corry, his family and advisors, and are trying to find the best option for him to get the best people we can for the operation.
“We’ve spoken to Corry and he’s in decent spirits. There were a few days where he was in a lot of discomfort and pain, and he’s now going to be waiting for an operation."
Evans' loss is a blow for Blackburn - who sit 13th in the Championship - and also potentially for Northern Ireland.
Michael O'Neill's side take on Bosnia and Herzegovina in a massive Euro 2020 playoff semi-final on March 26.
If they get through that they will play the winners of Slovakia and the Republic of Ireland in the final five days later.
“He’ll have a period of time before he can even think about getting back into football but we won't be putting a timescale on it," Mowbray added.
“It’s a concern for him and his family and we wish him well for his recovery.
“It happened right on the opposite side of the dugout. He’s taken some whack to his face after fracturing a part of his skull and shattering his eye socket.
“Our thoughts are with Corry and we’ll be there to support him every inch of the way," he added.
“Corry is a very important player for us, bringing that experience to the team.
“He has fantastic anticipation and will be a huge loss for us. It’s hard, but we’ll try our best without him.”
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