Kyle Walker faces a spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on a fractured elbow.
The right-back sustained the injury in training and AC Milan made a rapid decision to get him treated.
It leaves the 34-year-old sweating over how long he will be out, with just seven Serie A matches left and potentially two Coppa Italia games.
Milan reserve an option to buy the Manchester City loanee and he will hope to do enough to impress them after claiming the move was needed to 're-energise the love I have for football.