Lee Wilkie had broken into the Scotland team before injury

Duffy has confirmed that the Scotland cap has ruptured the cruciate ligaments in his knee for a second time.

"It is devastating news for the player and a massive blow for Dundee and Scottish football," he told BBC Sport.

"It is going to be more complicated than the first time, but he is a strong boy and I am sure he will be back."

Wilkie, who will be 25 on Wednesday, returned to action in January after a year out of the game following cruciate damage.

He suffered the latest injury during this month's victory over Dunfermline Athletic.

For it to happen twice is almost unique Dundee manager Jim Duffy

Wilkie was stretchered off after catching his studs in the turf in a seemingly innocuous challenge on Dunfermline's Iain Campbell.

A full assessment of the injury was delayed because of swelling and internal bleeding around the damaged area.

But an exploratory operation revealed that the latest injury will keep him out of action for the rest of this season and possibly the whole of next term.

"It is unusual for this to happen once," said Duffy. "For it to happen twice is almost unique and has left him thinking 'why me?'.

"The boy is very fragile at the moment. But, once he has had a few days to come to terms with it, he has to be strong to face the challenge before him.

"He has a lot of hard work in front of him, not just physically, but psychologically too.

"It is an injury that is very difficult to overcome at any time, but to have it a second time is demoralising.

"Lee was just getting back to his best after the last injury.

"We don't have many quality players in Scotland and Lee is certainly one of them, so it is a massive blow for football in general."

A clearer indication of the length of absence could come after Wilkie has surgery to repair the damage.

That will not be for at least another couple of weeks as the joint needs time to settle down from the initial trauma.