Hull City top scorer Robbie Brady is poised for a spell on the sidelines as he prepares to undergo a groin operation.
The in-form winger has been forced to pull out of the Republic of Ireland squad, named on Monday by interim manager Noel King, for the World Cup qualifiers against Germany and Kazakhstan.
The 21-year-old had a scan to assess the damage done after aggravating the injury in Hull's 1-0 win over West Ham United, a game in which Brady scored the only goal.
Brady, who has been capped six times at international level, has found the net four times in seven appearances for the Tigers this season.
