Hull City manager Steve Bruce has revealed that Nikica Jelavic may not play again this season after he underwent knee surgery earlier this week.
The forward is expected to spend six weeks on the treatment table after the club opted to send Jelavic under the knife due to a problem that has been troubling him for some time.
"We hope, knowing Jela, he'll do his best to try and play a part, but if we're going to be realistic, it could force him out for the rest of the season," Bruce told reporters in this morning's press conference.
"Since the last operation it was pretty evident that it was still troubling him. It came to a head when he couldn't really train again last week. For how brave he is and how tough he is, there's probably only him that could carry on the way he has."
Hull are three points above the relegation zone in the Premier League table.