Newcastle United midfielder Siem de Jong has been ruled out until April after undergoing surgery on a collapsed lung.
De Jong had been nearing a comeback after spending five months on the sidelines with a thigh injury, but the Dutchman will now be absent until the final few weeks of the season after suffering the condition for the second time in his career.
The 26-year-old told the club's official website: "After four months of hard work getting back to full fitness it is such bad luck to suffer another setback. We are all hopeful that the surgery I will have this week will ensure I don't have any repeat of the condition in the future.
"It's very sad for me personally, especially since I was almost back in contention and feeling great. I'm sorry for my teammates, the club and our fans that I'm not able to help the team for a little while longer.
"I am determined to come back stronger as soon as possible. Thank you to everyone for your support."
De Jong has made just three appearances for the Magpies since his move to St James' Park in the summer.
Darren Plant
