Taiwo Awoniyi has been ruled out for ‘months’ following groin surgery in a major blow for Nottingham Forest.
The Nigerian striker, who has scored four goals in 11 appearances and is Steve Cooper’s top scorer this season, has been managing the problem since October.
He played for his country in their draw with Lesotho but withdrew from the squad and has now gone under the knife.
It is his second significant absence for the club after he missed 15 games last season due to another groin injury.
Cooper said: ‘It’s bad news on Taiwo, he’s had to have surgery and he is going to be out for months.
Nottingham Forest’s top scorer Taiwo Awoniyi will be out for months after groin surgery
Steve Cooper confirmed fans will see him again this season and praised ‘such a good guy’
‘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.’
Forest’s next match is at home against Brighton on Saturday.
They have won two of their last Premier League games and have only lost one of their last six, a 3-2 defeat at West Ham in their previous outing.
Cooper’s side sit 14th in the table with 13 points after 12 games.