Republic of Ireland striker Leon Best has been ruled out for six months with a cruciate knee ligament injury.
Best was injured in a friendly match with new club Blackburn Rovers against AEK Athens on Saturday, having scored earlier in the game, and was stretchered off shortly before half-time.
A scan has revealed the extent of the injury in a blow to Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni ahead of the start of the World Cup qualifiers in September.
The striker joined Blackburn from Newcastle United for £3million on 2 July.
