Manchester United could be forced to keep Marouane Fellaini until January after his Belgium manager Marc Wilmots said the midfielder will be sidelined for two or three weeks.
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The former Everton player is wanted on loan by Napoli but would be unlikely to pass a medical after suffering an ankle injury in training.
Fellaini, who has been pictured on crutches at United's Carrington training ground, has missed the last two games and Wilmots expects him to sit out Belgium's September clashes with Australia and Israel.
"I'm told Fellaini would be out for two or three weeks," Wilmots told reporters after his latest Belgium squad was announced. "I hope he's back available in October."
Fellaini, who joined United on the final day of the summer 2013 transfer window for 27.5 million pounds, endured a difficult first year at Old Trafford and is still to score a competitive goal for his current club.
The 26-year-old came on as a substitute in Louis van Gaal's first league game in charge of United, the 2-1 defeat to Swansea, but is likely to be allowed to leave Old Trafford.
United, who have made four summer signings, may let several other players exit with Wilfried Zaha wanted on loan at Crystal Palace and Nani having already gone to Sporting Lisbon for the season as part of the deal that brought defender Marcos Rojo to Old Trafford.