Newcastle United goalkeeper Tim Krul has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury that he suffered on international duty.
The 27-year-old was forced off the pitch late on as the Netherlands claimed a 2-1 victory over Kazakhstan on Saturday, with scans showing that he has ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
The news will come as a blow to his club, who are currently bottom of the Premier League and have yet to win a match this season.
"I'm devastated the scan has confirmed my biggest fear that I have torn my knee cruciate playing for Holland in the game aginst Kazakhstan last night," Krul wrote on Twitter.
"My recovery and hard work starts now to fully recover. I'm devastated I can't play a part on the pitch to help the team turn this season around. I still believe this club can and should be up there with the top teams."
Krul was making his eighth appearance for the Netherlands when he picked up the injury.
Alex Meyers
