Ole Gunnar Solskjaer seems certain to miss the remainder of the season after fracturing his cheekbone in a reserve-team outing against Middlesbrough last night.
The Manchester United striker suffered the injury in a clash of heads with Boro defender Ugo Ehiogu just seven minutes into the 1-1 draw and was immediately driven to hospital in Manchester for the extent of the problem to be assessed.
United's worst fears have now been realised and Solskjaer will have an operation to reduce the extent of the fracture.
Although club officials have rated his recovery time as between six to eight weeks, the loss of match sharpness almost certainly means Solskjaer will not play again this season.
"Ole will undergo an operation to reduce the fracture," a spokesman told the club's official website.
"He is likely to be out for between six to eight weeks."
As Solskjaer's current contract expires during the summer, it raises a huge question mark over whether he will play for United again.
The 33-year-old had been hoping for a pay-as-you-play deal with the Red Devils after successfully overcoming a knee injury which had virtually ruled him out of the previous two seasons.
Solskjaer - who will always be regarded as a hero at Old Trafford, not just for his injury-time Champions League winner in 1999, but also his devotion to the United cause - finally returned to Premiership action at Birmingham in December.
He also appeared in both FA Cup ties against non-league Burton a month later, although he has been restricted to second-team appearances in recent times as he looked to regain the sharpness that established him as one of the most lethal
front men in the Premiership.
Solskjaer's injury was the start of a bad night for United, who also lost Gerard Pique to a dead leg and Quinton Fortune with a twisted knee.
Like Solskjaer, the South African has been plagued by fitness problems and was only in the second game of his comeback from a knee injury which prevented him making a single appearance at senior level this term.
United medical staff have played down the seriousness of Fortune's injury but, so far, no precise diagnosis has been made public.
