West Ham United co-owner David Gold has confirmed that winger Andre Ayew will be out of action for four months after injuring his right thigh in the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea on Monday.
Ayew, 26, was the club's record transfer when he joined from Swansea for a £20.5 million fee earlier this summer, having scored 12 Premier League for the Welsh club last season.
But the Ghana forward is set for a lengthy period on the sidelines as he will require surgery to fix his thigh issue.
Sad news. Ayew has injured his quadriceps and will need surgery. He will be out for 4 months. Good luck Andre. dg pic.twitter.com/zL4Rph25TY
- David Gold (@davidgold) August 18, 2016
On Wednesday, the club's head of medical and sports science, Stijn Vandenbroucke, confirmed Ayew would be out for a long time.
"Andre Ayew injured his right thigh at Chelsea on Monday and underwent a scan on Wednesday afternoon," Vandenbroucke said. "The medical team will now assess the results with a leading consultant before drawing any conclusions.
"My first thought and priority is with the player and his physical and mental wellbeing. He has suffered a significant injury and it is imperative that we do not rush to conclusions and we receive the correct diagnosis by consulting top specialists.
"At this time, it is too early to put a timeframe on his potential return date but Andre is facing a significant rehabilitation period.
"The best thing we can do as a Club is to support Andre through this difficult period. We will keep you updated throughout this process and I am sure he will be come back stronger than ever."