Everton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin is set to be sidelined for several weeks.
Schneiderlin was withdrawn at the beginning of the second half in the Blues’ 3-2 defeat to Arsenal last weekend after he suffered a torn meniscus.
Andre Gomes replaced the France international to make his first senior appearance since an horrific ankle injury just three months prior.
But Schneiderlin is now facing a lengthy spell away from action as it was confirmed on Friday that he had undergone surgery on the knee injury.
The 30-year-old, who is in the last year of his existing Goodison Park deal, is now expected to miss most of the final 11 games of the current campaign.
It means that Carlo Ancelotti’s side will be without Schneiderlin for Sunday’s visit of his former club Manchester United with Gomes set to set into the void.
Prior to his injury, the ex-Southampton man had made 15 Premier League appearances for Everton and recently started back-to-back games.