AC Milan midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek requires surgery after a gruesome injury left him with a fractured jaw.
The 30-year-old was playing for the Italian giants against Parma on Sunday when he collided with the opposition’s goalkeeper, Edoardo Corvi.
It was completely accidental but left both players on the deck and the Englishman came off worse, left with blood streaming from his face.
The England international was carried from the San Siro pitch on a stretcher with his head and neck in a brace.
Sky Sports Italia report that Loftus-Cheek lost a number of teeth in the collision and suffered a fractured alveolar bone.
The alveolar bone is a specific bone in the jaw which houses tooth sockets and he will have surgery on the injury on Monday morning.
Loftus-Cheek could require screws or plates to be put in his face as part of the operation and is expected to be out for several months.
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Loftus-Cheek started the game on Sunday and has been a regular in the AC Milan side this season, making 23 Serie A appearances, scoring three goals.
He returned to the England squad in September for the first time in over six years and earned his first cap since November 2018 when he played against Wales in October.
While it was only an outside chance, he remained in contention to make Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the World Cup this summer, but those hopes now appear to be at an end.
Even if the midfielder can return to action before the end of the season, he will not have time to prove form and fitness in time for the World Cup.
He was already facing stiff competition in midfield from the likes of Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, Kobbie Mainoo and Jordan Henderson.
Tuchel is a fan of the man he worked with at Chelsea, though, hailing his quality and his character when he recalled him to the England squad earlier this season.
‘It was always a pleasure to work with him and I’m very happy that I had the chance to call him up,’ said the German. ‘He is a very nice guy to be around, very friendly, very polite, good sense of humour.
‘He is full of quality. Sometimes I’m not sure he is aware how good he is, how good he can be.
‘He fits in seamlessly because of his character and his quality. He showed it straight away, he competes for a place in central midfield. It’s good to see that he’s fit, healthy and plays for his club, then he’s always in the mix to make an impression on the international level.’