Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez believes defender Fábio Aurélio could be sidelined for three weeks with a thigh problem.
The Brazilian was forced off midway through the first half of Sunday's victory over Blackburn after straining quadriceps in his right leg.
Aurélio has not had the best luck with injuries, having missed the start of the season after sustaining an unusual knee problem in a kickabout with his children during the summer.
Since then he has struggled with a few niggling injuries but appeared to be ready for a longer run in the team before this latest setback as Benítez was keen for young left-back Emiliano Insua to have a break.
"It's not good news and we think he is going to be out for maybe another two or three weeks – Fábio has had really bad luck," said Benítez.
"It all began at the start of the season, when he suffered the injury during the summer with his family, and it's like there has been something every month since then.
"It is a shame because he is a top footballer and a really nice person but him being out leaves us with a problem because we wanted to play him, so we could give Insua a rest.
"Emiliano is a good young player and has benefited from being involved in so many games but he has been playing a lot recently.
"We needed Fábio so he could help the team and also help Insua. His injury is bad news for both of them."
With right-back Glen Johnson on the verge of a first-team comeback it seemed Benítez's injury worries were over until Martin Skrtel broke his foot in last week's Europa League tie in Romania and Daniel Agger injured a knee against Blackburn.
There is, at least, some encouraging news concerning the Denmark centre-back: "We will continue to watch Daniel," Benítez told the Liverpool Echo. "We are glad that it is nothing serious but whether he is available for Wigan (on Monday) depends on his progression in the next few days."
The Brazilian was forced off midway through the first half of Sunday's victory over Blackburn after straining quadriceps in his right leg.
Aurélio has not had the best luck with injuries, having missed the start of the season after sustaining an unusual knee problem in a kickabout with his children during the summer.
Since then he has struggled with a few niggling injuries but appeared to be ready for a longer run in the team before this latest setback as Benítez was keen for young left-back Emiliano Insua to have a break.
"It's not good news and we think he is going to be out for maybe another two or three weeks – Fábio has had really bad luck," said Benítez.
"It all began at the start of the season, when he suffered the injury during the summer with his family, and it's like there has been something every month since then.
"It is a shame because he is a top footballer and a really nice person but him being out leaves us with a problem because we wanted to play him, so we could give Insua a rest.
"Emiliano is a good young player and has benefited from being involved in so many games but he has been playing a lot recently.
"We needed Fábio so he could help the team and also help Insua. His injury is bad news for both of them."
With right-back Glen Johnson on the verge of a first-team comeback it seemed Benítez's injury worries were over until Martin Skrtel broke his foot in last week's Europa League tie in Romania and Daniel Agger injured a knee against Blackburn.
There is, at least, some encouraging news concerning the Denmark centre-back: "We will continue to watch Daniel," Benítez told the Liverpool Echo. "We are glad that it is nothing serious but whether he is available for Wigan (on Monday) depends on his progression in the next few days."
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