Cheltenham's Michael Wylde suffered a broken jaw in a clash of heads with his central defensive partner Shane Duff in Saturday's friendly against Hereford. Both players went for the same ball and both were taken to hospital.
But while Duff was discharged after suffering mild concussion, Wylde now needs surgery after suffering a double displaced fracture of the lower jaw.
"The healing will take about 10 weeks," Robins physiotherapist Ian Weston told the club's website.
"It is not a process that we can speed up at all."
Boss John Ward already has two other central defenders in the treatment room, as Michael Townsend went off during the Hereford game with an ankle ligament injury.
With Gavin Caines already out for six weeks with a knee problem, Ward is set to step up his search to boost his defensive ranks this week before the new season begins.
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