Swansea City and Wales midfielder Ollie Cooper is facing three months out because of a stress fracture in his foot.
Cooper has been a regular for Swansea this season and has also made an impression in Craig Bellamy’s new-look Wales side.
But the 24-year-old will be sidelined until 2025 after a scan revealed the injury issue.
Cooper will miss Wales’ Nations League games against Turkey and Iceland this month, while he will be absent for a significant chunk of the Championship season.
The loss of Cooper is a heavy blow for Swansea, given that he has returned to form under Luke Williams this season having struggled at times during the last campaign.
It is a second injury setback in a fortnight for head coach Williams, who saw South Korea international Eom Ji-Sung ruled out for six weeks with a knee problem last month.
Cooper had played in all 12 Swansea league games this season before being ruled out of this weekend’s trip to Oxford United.
The Swansea academy product has also featured in all four of Bellamy’s Wales games so far.