Leeds United defender Lucas Radebe faces another spell on the sidelines after damaging ankle ligaments in a reserve match.
The South African international, who was on his way back from a long-standing knee injury, was stretchered off during a 2-0 defeat against Sunderland reserves at Elland Road last night.
He fell awkwardly following an aerial challenge with Sunderland defender Ross Marchant after 70 minutes and was taken to hospital.
It was feared Radebe had broken his leg, but the injury has now been diagnosed as serious ankle ligament damage, which is likely to keep him out for several weeks. The 31-year-old was playing his second reserve game in a week after recovering from two serious knee operations.
"This is a major setback and I'm very disappointed but I'm determined to fight my way back into the first team," he told the club's website. Radebe had hoped to fight his way back into the Leeds first team in time to push for a place in South Africa's World Cup squad.
The defender has not played a first team match since the end of March.
-Reuters