Watford midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah will undergo knee surgery following a freak knee injury suffered in training.
Chalobah's England breakthrough will be put on hold as the club hope the former Chelsea youngster will be fit against before the end of the calendar year.
The 22-year-old who was called into Gareth Southgate's squad last month following his £5m move from Chelsea is on crutches with his knee in a brace.
'Whilst we can't put an exact timeline on his recovery, we are expecting to see him re-integrating into the squad well before the new year,' said Hornets performance director Gavin Benjafield.