Sunderland winger Carlos Edwards is out of action until the New Year after it was confirmed he broke his leg in Saturday's win over Derby.
The 29-year-old's agent today revealed that he suffered a fracture in the clash with defender Jay McEveley which forced him from the field 13 minutes from time.
He is expected to be out of action for around six weeks, and that will come as a major blow to both the player and manager Roy Keane.
Agent Mike Berry told TTFF media: "The good thing is that it's clean break with no other complications as such so it will take him about six weeks before he can be back on the pitch.
"But as the saying goes here in Trinidad, it seems like the guy needs a good bush bath because he has the worst run of injuries in the past year than he's had in 10 years or so.
"It has been a nightmare for him. He got over the hamstring injury and came back against Everton and then got injured again versus Derby.
"The one good thing about Carlos is he is a class player, so we have to keep our fingers crossed that he does not have further injury problems.
"It is a clean break which means it will not take too long to heal, and there are no ligament damage. We expect four to six weeks before he is back."
Sunderland are yet to confirm the injury with no comment expected from Keane until his pre-match press conference on Friday, but the news will come as a huge disappointment.
Edwards left the Stadium of Light on crutches on Saturday evening after his luck deserted him once again just three games into his comeback from a hamstring tear.
He returned to action in the 1-1 derby draw with Newcastle on November 10 almost three months after damaging his hamstring at Birmingham during the opening week of the season.
The Trinidad and Tobago international, who joined the club in a £1.4million switch from Luton in January, also suffered a nasty shoulder injury last season.
He was one of the key men in Sunderland's late charge towards the Coca-Cola Championship title, injecting pace and goals into Keane's side from the right wing.
His latest misfortune leaves the Irishman with a serious headache as he prepares for Saturday's daunting trip to Chelsea.
Keane's options down the right are limited in both midfield and defence with Paul McShane having had to shuffle across into the middle of the back four because of Nyron Nosworthy's hamstring problem.
Greg Halford slipped in at right-back for the 1-0 victory over the Rams and turned in one of his better performances for the club, and while he could push forward, a lack of cover at the back means that is less likely.
Keane has played skipper Dean Whitehead, Grant Leadbitter and Liam Miller wide in midfield in the past, while strikers Anthony Stokes and Michael Chopra have also lined up there.
However, he has also altered the shape of his side away from home and may instead decide to play five across the middle with Kenwyne Jones up front by himself.
The Irishman could be forgiven for bemoaning his luck having just got Edwards and Whitehead back to fitness following long-term lay-offs.
Nosworthy is almost four weeks into his recovery from a hamstring tear, but summer signings Kieran Richards and Russell Anderson remain on the sidelines with back and ankle problems respectively.
Keane has admitted fitness concerns have exposed the lack of depth in his squad, and that is something he will hope to address once the winter transfer window opens next month.
