Tottenham's Jermain Defoe will undergo surgery on his groin and could be out for up to a month.
The 27-year old will have the operation next week after aggravating the area but is expected to be used at some stage in Wednesday night's Champions League qualifier second leg against Young Boys of Switzerland.
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp confirmed that Defoe's problem, which he has carried since the World Cup, has not gotten any better in recent weeks.
"He's not trained a lot. And he's getting worse, he's getting worse all the time," Redknapp said.
"When he has trained, he's been all right, he's been sticking goals in. But then he's had days off where he couldn't train.
"Sixty minutes is about as much as he can last.
"It might only be half a game he can last now, but it's getting less each time - the pain's getting worse," added in regards to the Young Boys clash.
"He wants to play and train all the time but he's got to have it done now.
"He can't go on like that."
