Doncaster Rovers striker James Hayter will be out for up to two months after suffering medial knee ligament damage.
It is understood the 29-year-old, who has yet to score this season, will not need surgery on the injury he suffered against Nottingham Forest.
"It's a blow but these things happen in football," Rovers boss Sean O'Driscoll told BBC Radio Sheffield.
"It wasn't even a bad tackle, just bad luck, but it creates an opportunity for John Spicer."
The Rovers boss added: "It's a painful one, but it just takes time to heal.
"It's not one of those injuries where you don't know what it is and whether you need to have an operation."
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