Colm Whelan has ruptured his cruciate ligament and will be sidelined for between six and nine months.
It is a serious blow for UCD but even more so for the Ireland Under-21 international who was poised to move clubs this summer.
Striker Whelan is wanted by a host of English sides and was recently linked with Lincoln City and also Shamrock Rovers here at home.
But he was injured in the Student’s 1-0 win away to Finn Harps last Friday night and forced off after 61 minutes.
And ahead of Thursday’s home clash with Shamrock Rovers, Whelan’s worst fears have been realised.
UCD boss Andy Myler told Mirror Sport: “Unfortunately Collie will be out for the foreseeable future as he ruptured his cruciate.
“He will be out for six to nine months. It's terrible timing for Collie with the Under-21s coming up and the possibility of moves in the summer.
"We just need to get him back right, get him back on the horse and get his rehab done and get him as strong as we can get him.
"Cruciates are not what they used to be. You can come back from them the same player.
"There is never a good time to get injured, but there is a bad time and this is probably a bad time for him.”
Myler continued: “We're not thinking about ourselves here.
“We wanted what's best for Collie and moving on is probably what's best for him at this stage of his career and his development.
"But all this will do is put a small delay on that. It won't hold it up too much, but it's a delay nonetheless.”
Whelan will miss Ireland’s U21 European qualifiers against Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro in Tallaght Stadium next month.
