Sheffield Wednesday will have to do without the services of club captain Steve Watson for the remainder of the season and he could even have played his last game for the Owls.
The veteran utility man, who has been utilised primarily as a midfielder during his time at Hillsborough has undergone surgery for a hip problem that will keep him out of action for months.
The injury has kept Watson out of the squad on a number of occasions this season as a result an operation was seen as the only alternative to eradicate the persistent problem.
The situation puts Watson's future at S6 in doubt as he is out of contract in the summer and as a result will have no playing time available to prove his fitness and earn a new contract in what remains of the season.
Watson has added experience to a young Wednesday squad and has never given anything less than 100% in the blue and white stripes. If time proves that he has played his last game for the club he will be fondly remembered for scoring the only goal of the game in the Sheffield derby at Hillsborough, laying the foundations for the historic derby double.