Stuart Dallas looks certain to miss Northern Ireland’s forthcoming Nations League campaign after suffering a serious leg injury in Saturday’s 4-0 defeat to Manchester City.
The versatile Leeds United midfielder was stretchered off in agony in first half stoppage time at Elland Road after a challenge on City winger Jack Grealish.
The 31-year-old waved immediately to the bench and received several minutes of treatment before being helped onto a stretcher.
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Leeds boss Jesse Marsch said: “I don’t think it’s good with his knee and we will miss him very much because he is in many ways the heart and soul as a leader.
“Yeah, he's the heart and soul. He will be missed, but you have to think about the person and hope he's going to be okay. All our minds with him and his family.
“You have to think about the person and hope he’s going to be okay. All of us, our minds are on Stuart hoping he’ll have a full recovery.”
Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville instantly feared the worst following Dallas’ sickening collision with Grealish near the dugouts.
“He’s hurt, he’s really hurt here” Neville said during the lengthy injury break.
“It was madness from Dallas.. he has been flying into challenges. He’s competitive. The stretcher's on.
“To lose Dallas is a big blow for Leeds. He’s a big player for Leeds and so consistent. It’s not a good one for Dallas, it’s not a good one. His teammates are very concerned.”
Northern Ireland face four Uefa Nations League games in June - against Greece, Cyprus and Kosovo - before concluding their Group C2 campaign in September.
Ian Baraclough’s men are next in action on June 2 when they welcome Greece to Windsor Park before travelling to Cyprus and Kosovo on June 5 and 9.
They finish next month’s run of four games against Cyprus in Belfast on June 12.
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