Sunderland forward Fabio Borini has been ruled out of action for three months, leaving the Black Cats with something of a striking crisis.
Borini has a groin injury which will keep the Italian sidelined until just before Christmas, meaning the Wearside club will have to rely on Jermain Defoe to stay fit and healthy in the interim.
Manager David Moyes will be left to reflect on his failure to recruit a new forward during the transfer window as the injury nightmare at the Stadium of Light continues to worsen.
Borini, who arrived in an £8million deal from Liverpool last summer, played 90 minutes of Sunderland's opening-day defeat at Manchester City but was substituted with 25 minutes remaining of the 1-1 draw at Southampton last weekend.