Arsenal and England striker Danny Welbeck is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury.
Welbeck has been ruled out for nine months, meaning he is out if this summer’s European Championships in France.
He picked up the injury 20 minutes into last weekend’s Premier League clash with Manchester City.
Arsenal confirmed that specialists “determined surgery was required after scans and tests revealed significant cartilage damage.”
Welbeck was expected to be there or thereabouts when the England squad was announced for Euro 2016, up front alongside Wayne Rooney, Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane.
But the injury has dealt a blow to Three Lions manager Roy Hodgson, who is delaying naming his squad as long as possible.
Welbeck only returned from injury in February, and he joins Gunners colleague Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in missing the tournament.
It is also a real blow for Arsenal, and manager Arsene Wenger will almost certainly have to dip into the transfer market this summer for reinforcements.
By Steve Osborne            @BlizzardSteve75
