Sunderland winger Adam Johnson has been ruled out for a minimum of eight weeks with a "shoulder injury".
Johnson has a court case for "grooming kids" coming up.
Manager Dick Advocaat said: "Adam will go to the hospital for a scan tonight and then we will know exactly what is wrong.
"It is a serious injury and it will be at least eight weeks."
Johnson is due to face trial for child sex charges at Bradford Crown Court on February 10 next year.
He has already denied three counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of grooming.