Wales captain Aaron Ramsey has been ruled out for at least two months with a hamstring injury.
The Cardiff City midfielder, 33, sustained the injury after coming on as a substitute during Wales’ 2-1 Nations League win in Montenegro earlier this month.
He missed his club’s 1-0 defeat at Derby County last Saturday as a result and could now be unavailable for the rest of Wales’ Nations League campaign, which finishes in November.
“An injury which will take a few weeks. He will have a scan in two weeks,” said Cardiff manager Erol Bulut.
“According to the medical staff, it could be eight to 10 weeks [out].”
his is the latest in a long line of setbacks for Ramsey, who made only seven league starts and six substitute appearances for Cardiff last season in a campaign ruined by a knee problem.
The former Arsenal and Juventus playmaker looked to have turned a corner this season as he started Cardiff’s first four Championship matches before playing 72 minutes for Wales in their goalless draw with Turkey.
But Ramsey’s latest absence will be a blow for Wales and Cardiff, who have been without a raft of players because of injuries at different stages at the start of this season.
Jamilu Collins and midfielder David Turnbull are close to being back to full fitness but Callum Robinson, Kion Etete, Isaak Davies and Jesper Daland are all unavailable for Saturday’s Championship match at home to Leeds United.