Jack Butland has suffered further injury misery and could be facing up to two more months on the sidelines with another ankle problem.
The Stoke goalkeeper, who missed Euro 2016 after he fractured his right ankle and damaged ligaments during England's win over Germany in March, worked tirelessly over the summer to get fit for the new campaign.
Butland had ambitions to seriously rival Joe Hart and Fraser Forster to become England's new No 1 under Sam Allardyce but he was injured in training the day before the opening game of the season at Middlesbrough.
It is understood that the Butland has not damaged the ankle which was operated on after he was hurt in Berlin but he had not responded to treatment at Stoke and was sent for a scan on Wednesday; he will go to see another specialist on Monday.