Cardiff City defender Bruno Manga has suffered a further setback after being ruled out for up to nine weeks.
The Bluebirds' Player of the Year for 2014-15 has yet to start a league game this term due to an injury problem.
Manga had been pushing for a start in the weeks leading up to the international break, being used for 45 minutes in the defeat to Hull City, but he is unlikely to feature again until the end of the year.
Having picked up the groin injury while away on duty with national side Gabon, City boss Russell Slade was quick to voice his disappointment.
"Bruno has got an injury. It seems to be he could be out for eight or nine weeks," he is quoted as saying by Wales Online. "It's a groin strain. It's very difficult, we have had no control over it. We are trying to find out how he did it. It wasn't in a game, it was done in training.
"It's most disappointing news and it's frustrating for him because he has had so many little injuries from the start of season. In Holland we thought it was severe - then he had a shoulder problem and now a severe groin strain. It was in training with Gabon.
"He played the first game, played on Friday and there was a game due on Monday and he did it between. I would like to know what happened. It was out of our control. It's difficult with Gabon to find out what training they are doing. We could help them if we could get information but we don't seem to get dialogue with them."
Manga made a big impression in his maiden campaign with Cardiff last time out, featuring 29 times upon joining from Ligue 1 side Lorient.
