Torino defender Cesare Natali has fractured his right foot and will be out of action for the rest of the season.
The player picked up the injury during a training session on Tuesday afternoon, but tests have shown the damage is far worse than previously thought.
Natali has fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot and will undergo surgery over the next few days.
It remains to be seen how long he will be sidelined for, but it seems certain he won’t play again this season.
It is a bitter blow for Toro, who are struggling to stay in Serie A and are now just three points clear of the relegation zone.
“To survive we must get back to the side who went eight games unbeaten and that must be the foundation we can work upon,” said striker Alessandro Rosina.
“The three defeats on the trot were painful, even if they were very different from one another. The team understood why the crowd jeered at the end of the loss to Udinese, as the results have not been consistent. We are the first to be upset about this.”
