Lisandro Martinez faces a lengthy lay-off after aggravating the foot injury that ruled the Manchester United centre-back out of the end of last season.
Martinez was sidelined for seven weeks after fracturing a metatarsal in April and sources say the Argentina defender faces a similar spell out of action.
Martinez aggravated the injury in United's defeat at Arsenal earlier this month but played on for two games before the club's medical staff decided he could not continue.
A club statement read: 'Lisandro Martinez will be out of action for an extended period due to an aggravation of the foot injury he suffered in April.