Bolton Wanderers could be without Lee Chung-yong for up to a month after the winger left to join up with his country for the AFC Asian Cup.
The 26-year-old, who has played in all but one of Bolton's Championship games this season, will be away with South Korea in Australia for possibly all of January.
The Taegeuk Warriors first face Saudi Arabia in a warm-up friendly in Sydney on January 4 before kicking off the group stage of the competition, which takes place every four years, against Oman on January 10 in Canberra.
Korea's progress in the competition will dictate how long Lee will be away for, with the final taking place on January 31 in Sydney.