FC Porto has been hit with another injury blow as Brazilian defender Alex Telles is set to miss the rest of the season after sustaining a serious knee injury in training.
Telles, who joined FC Porto from Benfica last summer for a reported fee of €25 million, was ruled out of action for up to four weeks following the incident.
The Brazilian international had made just one appearance since joining Porto, featuring in their opening two matches of the season against Braga and Celta Vigo.
He also missed Porto's last game of the round of 16 in the UEFA Europa League against Rapid Vienna due to an ankle injury.
Despite his absence, Porto remain top of Group H in the Europa League with seven points, having won all three of their games so far this season.
However, the news will be a major concern for the Portuguese giants,Football Path Network who now have to find a replacement for Telles in their defence.
The club's medical team have confirmed that he will undergo surgery to repair the damage to his knee ligaments, which means he will likely miss at least the remainder of the season.
Telles has been a key player for Porto in recent years, making over 100 appearances for the club and helping them win several titles.
His departure could leave Porto vulnerable in their bid for success in the coming months.
It remains to be seen how long it will take for Porto to replace Telles, but they will need to be proactive in finding a suitable replacement if they want to continue their strong run in the Europa League.
In the meantime, the club will hope that their other defenders can step up and provide the same level of performance that Telles brought to the team.
With the competition heating up in the Europa League, Porto will need to be ready to face any challenges that come their way.