Steven Gerrard has been given the green light to bring in a new midfielder at Aston Villa after Marvelous Nakamba’s injury blow.
Zimbabwe international Nakamba, 27, was ruled out last week by new boss Gerrard for up to four months.
The star was forced off just before the hour mark in Villa’s defeat at Liverpool before missing last week’s 2-0 win at Norwich.
It is a huge blow for Gerrard after Nakamba started in his first five games in charge as Villa collected nine points.
The holding midfielder has a 63% tackle success rate in the Premier League and has made 68 recoveries this term in 12 appearances.
Nakamba, signed from Club Brugge in August 2019 for £11million, had been one of Villa’s key players under new boss Gerrard and progressed hugely.
He plays a vital role in Gerrard’s 4-3-3 system and was voted the club’s player of the month for November.
When Gerrard was appointed in November he vowed to spend time assessing his squad before formulating any transfer plans.
But he has already accepted Nakamba plays such an important role he must be replaced and has asked Villa’s sporting director Johan Lange to draw up a short-list of targets.
Gerrard, who quit Rangers to replace Dean Smith, will now turn to the financial backing of billionaire Villa co-owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens.
Gerrard said: “The surgeon is really happy with his operation and how it’s gone and now he’ll start his recovery process and recovery plan.
“He’s going to be missing for somewhere in the region of 12 weeks if it is a fantastic rehab or it could be up to 16 weeks.
“It will be somewhere in the middle of 12-16 weeks.”
Former Villa defender Alan Hutton assessed: “ I think since the new manager’s come in he’s really taken his game to a new level.
“He’s really been working hard and he fits into the system and the plan that Steven Gerrard wants to play.
“With the three in midfield, you can get bodies round about him, he’s defensive-minded but he can always pass forward.
“So I think it is a huge blow. However, I just feel when someone gets injured it is an opportunity for somebody else.
“You look at the likes of Morgan Sanson and these guys who haven’t been getting minutes. They are desperate to play football.
“Can they impose themselves now? Can they get in that team and make the place theirs? There’s an opportunity for somebody to go and grasp.”
