Birmingham City midfielder David Cotterill has been ruled out for around a month with a knee injury.
The Welsh international picked up the problem in last week's goalless draw in the Championship against Blackburn Rovers.
"He's our best crosser of the ball and by far the best deliverer of the ball at set pieces and we will certainly miss him," Blues boss Gary Rowett told the club website.
"He got through the game fine and came in the next day and his knee was swollen.
"He couldn't remember an incident and sometimes those are the worrying ones because you think what is it then?"
Cotterill will see a specialist once the swelling has reduced and may require surgery and a longer period on the sidelines if the injury is deemed more serious than first thought.
