Manchester United centre-half Chris Smalling is slated for a month on the sidelines after tests on the England international confirmed a broken toe Thursday.
Smalling, 26, is now expected to miss four weeks after breaking a toe in two places, according to a report from Dominic King of the Daily Mail.
Days after being criticised by Red Devils' gaffer Jose Mourinho for his inability to play when not at 100 percent, Smalling may not play again before Christmas as he recovers from the latest of a laundry list of ailments.
Mourinho lambasted Smalling and defensive colleague Luke Shaw after last Sunday's one-sided victory over Swansea, saying, "for the team, you have to do anything."
Now, it would appear that Smalling had reason for his apprehensions.
Smalling hasn't played since the 4-0 drubbing to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Oct. 23 after having two injections in his foot to alleviate pain. Mourinho called that effort "phenomenal," though two weeks later the Portuguese manager has changed his tune.
With Smalling out for a month and summer signing Eric Bailly facing an extended spell on the treatment table nursing knee ligament damage, Mourinho will likely continue to use a combination of Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo, and Phil Jones in a central position.
No stranger to addressing a squad's shortcomings in the transfer market, Mourinho will be keen to bolster a weakened backline in the January window.
United returns to Premier League action when it hosts title challengers Arsenal on Nov. 19.
