Liverpool will see Nathaniel Clyne spend an extra three months on the sidelines.
The England international has yet to make an appearance for Jurgen Klopp’s side in the current campaign due to a back injury sustained during pre-season.
Clyne’s absence also ruled him out of the Reds’ squad for the Champions League group stages, with Klopp forecasting it would be ‘some time’ before he returned.
But the defender now faces an extended spell on the sidelines of up to three months after undergoing surgery on Monday in a bid to correct the problem.
Should Clyne return to action at the latter end of that time frame, it would be seven months since his last outing in July’s pre-season friendly at Tranmere.
Homegrown duo Joe Gomez and Trent Alexander-Arnold have both helped fill the void left in Liverpool’s right-back position since the start of the season.