Burnley striker Martin Paterson will be out for at least three months after undergoing surgery on a knee injury.
Paterson, 22, was carried off after twisting his knee during Tuesday's 3-2 Carling Cup defeat at Barnsley and surgery revealed a cartilage tear.
Clarets boss Owen Coyle said: "It's the worst-case scenario."
However there was better news for keeper Brian Jensen, who was taken off with a dead leg in midweek. Coyle said: "Brian could be fit for the weekend."
Paterson, who was Burnley's top scorer last season with 19 goals in all competitions, was taken off after only 15 minutes at Oakwell.
Coyle added: "There was a tear in the cartilage - we were hoping he had just nicked it and that would allay him for two to four weeks.
"Coming also off the back of the injury to Chris McCann, it's a body blow for both the players."
McCann is also out for up to three months because of medial knee ligament damage.
The midfielder was injured in a challenge with Sunderland defender Michael Turner last Saturday - in a game that Burnley won 3-1.
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