Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher is to have an operation on his dislocated left shoulder and faces three months on the sidelines, DPA reported.
The 32-year-old sustained the injury in the weekend defeat by Tottenham Hotspur and said: "I'll be having surgery at the end of the week."
"It'll probably be late February or early March when I look to come back. The average is about 12 weeks. I'd like to come back before that but I've got to make sure it's right."
"It's difficult for me when I'm injured. It hasn't happened very often, and I'm very lucky with that I suppose, but maybe it's caught up with me a little bit now.
"I've been here before with a broken leg which put me out this length of time. It's not easy but you've got to get on with it, and it makes you more determined to get back.
"I'm sure towards the end of the season when people are maybe feeling a little bit tired I'll be raring to go."
The news is a further blow to Liverpool, who have been without injured captain Steven Gerrard for the past two weeks.
Liverpool lie 10th in the Premier League, seven points off the top four.