Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans has been ruled out for up to 10 weeks to deepen their midfield injury crisis.
The Belgium international, 28, came off in Sunday's 2-0 win at Newcastle with an ankle injury and checks have confirmed he is unlikely to return until April.
He is the latest key midfielder for the side currently lying third in the Premier League to suffer a serious injury in recent weeks. John McGinn has been sidelined for two months and Boubacar Kamara is out for the season, both with knee injuries.
Villa are close to signing their former midfielder Douglas Luiz on loan from Juventus to add cover.