Nottingham Forest midfielder Andy Reid will be out of action until 2015 after scans revealed a groin injury is more serious than first feared.
The 32-year-old suffered the injury in Forest's 1-1 draw against Derby County in September.
Reid said that although a best-case scenario could see him return in eight weeks, it could be as long as 12.
"I'm gutted but all I can do now is be as positive as I can and work as hard as I can to come back stronger," he told the Nottingham Evening Post.
Stuart Pearce's side are also without Jack Hobbs until Christmas because of an ankle injury.
