Cardiff City boss Neil Harris has revealed Lee Tomlin will miss up to eight weeks through injury in a massive blow to the Bluebirds' play-off hopes.
The Bluebirds were utterly feckless in attack against Stoke City and Tomlin's absence was very telling. Their talisman was not there to pull the strings and that is set to be the case for a large chunk of the rest of the season.
It is a body blow to Cardiff's ambitions to muscle their way back into the top-six reckoning, with the club having been so reliant on the player's goals and assists so far in this campaign.
With the campaign reaching boiling point, Tomlin, who hurt his knee badly while chasing back to defend during a training drill this week, could miss as many as 10 of Cardiff City's remaining 13 games, including encounters against play-off rivals Nottingham Forest, Brentford, Leeds United, Preston, Bristol City, Blackburn Rovers and Fulham.
"He's going to be out for six to eight weeks, unfortunately," Harris said after the 2-0 defeat against the Potters.
"It's his medial ligament. We wish him well and try to get him back as quickly as we can.
"It's obviously a blow for the team to lose one of their best players, but it's an opportunity for others as well.
"We have to make sure that other players, when their opportunity comes, that they take them."
The lack of creativity against Stoke on Saturday afternoon will be a big concern for many Bluebirds fans.
They failed to create any meaningful chances in a disappointing 90 minutes, but with so many crucial fixtures lying win wait, does Harris think he has enough creativity in his ranks to mount a serious play-off push over the next few months?
"Only time will tell," he said. "I hope so.
"We have to find different ways. We have players who have been creative and we have players who can score goals.
"As a team we need to make sure we find other ways of doing it. We have scored goals from different avenues since we've been here and we have to continue to do that."
Many City fans urged the club to sign another playmaker in the January transfer window in fear of Tomlin picking up an injury at some point.
But no such signing was made and the fans' greatest fear has been realised. Harris, however, insisted it wasn't for the wont of trying.
"We tried extremely hard in the thought process that you could lose somebody," he added.
"You've got to try and make sure you've got cover all over the pitch.
"Trying to find another Lee Tomlin at Cardiff City is very difficult. Lee hasn't played much football since he's been at the club himself.
"It's always a fear factor when you lose a player. Can you replace them?
"I was very public with my thought process regarding who I wanted to sign in January.
"No window is ever perfect, it was far from perfect, but I was pleased with what we had. Good players.
"Now there is an opportunity for others to step up and take their chances."
