Liverpool's Portugal forward Diogo Jota has been ruled out of the World Cup with a calf injury, according to Reds manager Jurgen Klopp.
The 25-year-old was taken off on a stretcher in the final moments of his side's 1-0 Premier League win against Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday.
Klopp said Jota will be out for a "long time" and "we talk about months".
"(It is a) pretty serious injury of the calf muscle. Sad news for the boy, us, and Portugal," the German added.
"He's surprisingly OK so far. He's an incredibly smart boy. I think he knew it when we carried him off the pitch."
Jota missed the start of the season with a hamstring injury before returning as a substitute in a goalless draw against Everton on 3 September.
He played for Portugal during the international break later that month and scored in a 4-0 win against the Czech Republic.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United’s record signing Alexander Isak is unlikely to return before the World Cup because of a thigh injury, says manager Eddie Howe.
Isak, 23, has played only three times for Newcastle since joining from Real Sociedad for £60m in August and he scored on his debut against Liverpool.
The forward picked up the thigh problem during training with Sweden in the September international break.
“Unfortunately, he’s had a setback on his thigh,” Howe said.
“We don’t think we’ll see Alex back before the World Cup.
“It’s been very frustrating for him as a new player in a new league,” added Howe, speaking before Wednesday’s Premier League match at home to Everton (19:30 BST).
“I thought he was acclimatising well and picked up the injury with Sweden.”
The World Cup is scheduled to start on November 20 in Qatar.
Newcastle are sixth in the Premier League table after 10 games with three wins, six draws and a loss.
