Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has revealed that Steve Sidwell could be sidelined for up to six weeks with a knee injury.
The experienced midfielder suffered the problem on Saturday during the Potters' late defeat at Liverpool.
Sidwell, 31, is expected to be back in action at the start of 2015.
"It's a medial tear of his knee ligeament so having seen the scan the medical people are telling me i'ts likely to be four to six weeks," Hughes is quoted as saying by Sky Sports News.
Stoke continue their Premier League campaign on Tuesday night when they face Manchester United at Old Trafford.