Tottenham captain Cristian Romero will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury.
The defender was substituted in tears during Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Sunderland following a collision with Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky while defending the ball from Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey.
Reports claiming the Argentina international will return in time for the World Cup are believed not to be completely accurate, but Romero's season at club level is over.
Romero's injury is another monumental blow for relegation-threatened Spurs, who are in the bottom three and two points from safety with only six league games remaining.
It is another injury issue for new Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi, who told reporters on Friday he had expected to rely on Mohammed Kudus only for the forward to suffer a fresh quad injury.
Now he will have to do without Romero for the run-in, whom he had labelled a "crucial player" after the defeat at the Stadium of Light.
When asked about Romero's injury on Sunday, he said: "I hope for us it's not too important a problem because he's a crucial player for us.
"He's a good guy, good player, top player, big personality and we need him to finish this season and to achieve our goal."
Kevin Danso is line to replace Romero for the remainder of the season after the Austria international came on for him in the defeat at Sunderland.
Romero is now facing a race to be fit in time for this summer's World Cup with Argentina aiming to defend the title in USA, Canada and Mexico.
Argentina's opening game of the tournament is on June 17.
Romero's season-ending injury came as a result of a push by Brobbey, who was already on a yellow card, leading to questions over whether the striker should have been sent off.
Speaking on Sky Sports News' Ref Watch, ex-Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher said: "We have to be careful we don't get seduced by the outcome - the injury.
"If the goalkeeper's not there, a little nudge, are you going to send him off for a second yellow card? The answer is most certainly no.
"The goalkeeper comes out and a collision occurs. That changes everyone's perspective, but it wasn't a serious foul."
Ex-Cardiff striker Jay Bothroyd added: "Romero is not in control of the ball and is trying to block Brobbey from getting it. At some point, Brobbey can't see the ball anymore because he's so close to Romero.
"It's almost like he's pushed him to one side to see it. That's the kind of incident that comes because defenders are trying to shield the ball."
Many of Tottenham's biggest issues were self-diagnosed by Roberto De Zerbi during his first game in charge. Spurs had fallen into the bottom three before travelling to Sunderland, and their performance in defeat did nothing to strengthen the belief that they can climb out of it.
Appointing De Zerbi as one of the highest-paid head coaches in the division at this juncture of an already calamitous campaign was a high-stakes gamble. Some might argue that keeping Igor Tudor on would have been riskier still.
But whoever the boss - De Zerbi is Spurs' fourth of the last 12 months - the same problems seem to persist.
Sky Sports' Laura Hunter analyses De Zerbi's first game in charge.
Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher:
"I can't believe it. Tottenham look like they're going to go down," said Carragher. "The other [relegation-threatened] teams have something going for them.
"You look at fixtures, you think that's a good game for Tottenham. But they're awful. Tottenham's a good game for them.
"Wolves are bottom of the league. Do you think Tottenham will go there, and win? No chance."
Saturday: Brighton (H) - Premier League, kick-off 5.30pm, live on Sky Sports
April 25: Wolves (A) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 2: Aston Villa (A) - Premier League, kick-off 12.30pm
May 11: Leeds (H) - Premier League, kick-off 8pm, live on Sky Sports
May 17: Chelsea (A) - Premier League
May 24: Everton (H) - Premier League
