Liverpool striker Danny Ings has been ruled out for up to nine months with cartilage damage to his right knee.
Ings missed most of last season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his left knee and had been working his way back to full fitness.
The striker has made two first-team appearances this campaign and has flourished for Michael Beale's under-23 side, scoring seven goals in his outings for Liverpool's second string in recent months.
The former Burnley frontman sustained the injury making a tackle in last month's EFL Cup win over Tottenham Hotspur and he is expected to absent for seven to nine months.
The 24-year-old will have a procedure in London on Wednesday to correct the damage and Liverpool are hopeful that he will make a full recovery.
Liverpool FC confirm @IngsDanny has sustained a knee injuryhttps://t.co/AxMoxmoPTh
- Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 2, 2016
Manager Jurgen Klopp told the club's official website: "To say we are gutted would be an understatement. He is such a great boy and has worked so hard that he deserves better luck than this.
"It is typical of Danny's personality, on and off the pitch, that he picked up this injury to his knee when courageously trying to win the ball back for his team by making a tackle.
"But it is this same personality that means he will come back as good and as strong from this latest setback as he has done in the past.
"I'm told the likely layoff is anywhere from between seven to nine months. He is mentally strong, physically strong and will have the very best treatment and rehab possible to make sure when he returns he is ready to play for us at the level we know he is capable of."
Sources told ESPN FC in August that Liverpool had rejected advances from eight Premier League clubs -- including one who was prepared to pay £20 million -- for Ings.