Cheikhou Kouyate has started the season in fine form for Crystal Palace, emerging as Roy Hodgson's current top centre-back.
The 30-year-old has predominantly been a central midfielder during his time at Selhurst Park, but a spate of injuries over the summer meant he was redeployed in defence.
Kouyate has continued to deputise and excel at centre-back, even with a number of players returning from injuries.
Hodgson seems to have settled on the Senegal international as his first-choice centre-back, but next season he is going to lose the defender for a month.
During this week's international break, Kouyate was captain for his country as they qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2022.
The competition was scheduled to be held next year, however it was pushed back due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
It means that the tournament will be held in Cameroon in 2022, taking place over most of January and into February.
The timing of the competition has always frustrated Premier League managers, with some of their key players missing during an important part of the season.
And Hodgson will no doubt be added to that list with one of his main men now likely to miss a key moment in the next campaign.
Senegal were one of the first nations to qualify for the tournament, along with Algeria and, of course, the hosts Cameroon.
