McFadden is an important player for club and country

Birmingham and Scotland forward James McFadden faces a lengthy spell out of action after suffering anterior cruciate ligament damage to his knee.

A club statement said McFadden would be out "for the foreseeable future".

He picked up the injury in training and will see a specialist on Monday with a view to undergoing surgery.

McFadden, 27, had featured in all four of the Blues' Premier League games this season as well as Scotland's opening two Euro 2012 qualifiers.

The former Motherwell and Everton striker's only goal of the campaign to date came in last month's Carling Cup victory over Rochdale.

But his club and country are sure to miss him, and he seems odds-on to miss Scotland's trip to the Czech Republic on 8 October and the home tie against world champions Spain four days later.

If McFadden's ligament is ruptured, he could face six months or more out of the game, whether or not the decision is taken to operate.

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