Tottenham's Emmanuel Adebayor is set to be out of action for up to a week after flying to Africa to deal with a family crisis.
Adebayor has told the club that a family member is ill, with manager Mauricio Pochettino giving him permission to skip Thursday's Europa League match against Besiktas in order to return home to help solve the crisis.
The emergency also leaves the striker doubtful for Sunday's game at Swansea City, with Pochettino admitting it is almost "impossible" that his striker will have returned to Britain in time for the Premier League clash.
"I hope he sorts his problems," Pochettino said of Adebayor at a news conference. "I don't know how long [he will be out] but we hope he will stay with us next week to train. When you have a problem, your mind is not quite... it is difficult to give your best.
"I have always told you that players are human. Family is important. They need to fix when family matters happen. You need to sort it. If not, it is difficult to give the best.
"It is important that he takes time, sorts out the problem and when he is back is ready to train and available."
The latest development in Adebayor's family life comes after the Togo international fell out with his mother.
According to the Daily Mirror, Adebayor has flown to Ghana, where he bought his sister a house before falling out with his family.
Speaking about his personal issues recently, Adebayor said: "How am I going to be in touch with my mum if my mum is the one telling everyone that my work will not go forward? So I will just be on my side and do my thing.
"They should stop talking [and] talking. They should stop doing Juju on me. They should leave me alone."
The family emergency is another setback for Adebayor, who was struck down with malaria this summer before going on to spark controversy at White Hart Lane by saying players would rather play away from home because of booing fans.
Pochettino's squad, however, has been boosted by the return to fitness of England international Kyle Walker, after the right-back recovered from a nine-month layoff with an abdominal injury.
"I've not exactly had the best of luck with major tournaments," Walker said. "I missed Euro 2012 with broken toes and then obviously the World Cup. So I've never really had the chance to show people what I can do on the big international scene. But I am really looking forward to try to put that right.
"I feel so fresh and fit and I am determined to prove to the gaffer here and the gaffer with England that I have not lost what I had, and I will come back a better player."