Liverpool striker Fabio Borini is set to be out for three months after the club decided he needs surgery to repair a fractured bone in his foot.
The Italian picked up the injury in Liverpool's loss to Manchester United in September, and the problem was aggravated when he was on international duty with Italy last week.
Liverpool said its medical staff assessed the injury after his return and determined that Borini needs to undergo surgery. It said three months is the normal rehabilitation period for that kind of injury.
Borini's absence will pose further problems for Liverpool manager Brendan Rogers up front, with Liverpool already short on forwards following the sale of Craig Bellamy and Dirk Kuyt in the offseason and with Andy Carroll on loan to West Ham.
