Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper has confirmed that Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi has undergone surgery and will be out for months, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
With the African Cup of Nations billed to start in January in Cote D'Ivoire, the Super Eagles striker will likely miss the tournament.
Speaking on Thursday ahead of Saturday's fixture against Brighton and Hove Albion, Cooper said: "It's bad news on Taiwo, he's had to have surgery and he is going to be out for months.
"We'll support him and try to get him back as quick and as fit as he can be, but it's a really unfortunate situation and a blow for him.
"He's become an important player for us with the goals he's scored and the goals he will score for us, but he's such a good guy and a good professional who is desperate to do well, so to get an injury like this is harsh on him.
"We've got to support him through the process of coming back stronger. He's done that once before here and I'm sure he will give everything again like he did last time.
"You think about how well he did when he returned last season, I'm sure that's given him a good reference point to come back to.
"We'll definitely see him again this season, but it's groin surgery so it will take a little while."
It will be recalled that a pain in the groin had forced Awoniyi to leave Super Eagles camp after the World Cup qualifying match against Lesotho, making his way back to England as prescribed by the club doctors.
Uche Dozie