Watford attacking midfielder Roberto Pereyra could miss the rest of the Premier League season after damaging cartilage in his left knee - according to reports in the Mirror.
The Argentine suffered the injury in the 2-0 defeat to Manchester City but the extent of the damage has only just been revealed.
Pereyra, who cost the Hornets £13m from Juventus, damaged his meniscus - the cartilage thatacts as a shock absorber between bones.
The news will come as a bitter blow to Watford, who anticipated the playmaker would be out for around four months.
His capture last summer was hailed by many neutrals and experts, with his impact being touted as the potential difference-maker in the Hornets' bid to finish safely in mid-table or better.
Watford boss Walter Mazzarri could now be forced to raid thetransfer market in Januaryto replace his star man short-term, with recent reports suggesting he could make a swoop to bring back former winger Ashley Young from Manchester United.
Young, who playedat Vicarage Road between 2003 and 2007,is one of a few names expected to leave Old Trafford in January. It is understood the Reds might let him go in a cut-price deal of around £5m.
The 31-year-old has found himself on the bench for most of the season under Jose Mourinho. He has played 110 games for the club since his arrival in 2011 but may well call time on his Old Trafford career in 2017.
Mazzarri's men have lost four of their last five Premier League games and find themselves 12th after 17 games.With the transfer window justaround the corner, only time will tell if hebrings in cover for thecrocked Pereyra.