Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has confirmed that striker Peter Odemwingie will face a lengthy spell on the sidelines having undergone knee surgery.
The Nigeria international, who was replaced in the second half of the Potters' 1-0 victory over Manchester City last weekend, revealed the injury blow earlier this week.
No comeback date has yet been set, although Hughes has now left Odemwingie out of his 25-man squad which means he will not feature until at least January.
"It's a significant injury and unfortunately it's a long-term one but Peter has a great attitude to work and life in general – he's always got a smile on his face – and he's going to need those qualities," the 50-year-old told the club's official website. "It will be a long road back but we wish him well.
"We'll miss Peter around the place. He'll do his rehab here so we'll see him in the dressing rooms and around the building but we'll really miss him out on the training field where he's a big character.
"But we've got a great medical staff here and they will get him back as soon as it's possible and I'm sure he'll be as good as new."
Oussama Assaidi joined Stoke on loan from Liverpool on transfer deadline day as a direct replacement.
