Stoke attacker Bojan Krkic is set to miss the remainder of the current season after suffering a serious cruciate knee injury in Monday's 4-1 FA Cup win at Rochdale, according to Spanish media reports.
Former Barcelona starlet Bojan has been a huge success at Stoke this term, scoring key goals in wins over Tottenham, Arsenal and Everton.
The 24-year-old's most recent contribution was a superb volley to open the scoring in Monday's FA Cup fourth-round win at Rochdale, but he was later substituted with a serious-looking knee injury.
Potters boss Mark Hughes is concerned about the knee injury Bojan, saying on Monday: "There is a concern there for us. We don't know how bad it is. He has gone back home and we will check him [on Tuesday morning].
"He is due for a scan so hopefully he will be OK. Hopefully if the scan is clear he will be okay and it is just a short-term thing but at the moment it's a concern for us."
According to Catalan radio station RAC1 -- picked up in Mundo Deportivo -- tests carried out in Barcelona on Tuesday morning showed a tear in the cruciate ligament in his left knee, which will require an operation and a period on the sidelines of between six and nine months.
Bojan's former Barcelona captain Carles Puyol was quickly on Twitter to offer his support upon hearing the news: "Cheer up friend!," Puyol tweeted. "A strong hug."
Ànims amic @BoKrkic abraçada forta!!!
- Carles Puyol (@Carles5puyol) January 27, 2015
Another ex-Blaugrana colleague also offered his best wishes via the social network. "Cheer up," tweeted current Sevilla winger Gerard Deulofeu. "You will return even stronger."
Ánim @BoKrkic ! Tornaràs mes fort.
- Gerard Deulofeu (@gerardeulofeu) January 27, 2015
According to Sport, the injury means Stoke boss and former Camp Nou striker Mark Hughes could up his efforts to secure one or both of current Barca youngsters Adama Traore and Sandro Ramirez on loan during the current transfer window.