Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain will be sidelined for two months with a hernia in his lower back.
Team doctor Carlos Diez said a decision was taken Wednesday to proceed with further treatment after monitoring the Argentina international for nearly six weeks. Madrid will seek a second opinion before going through with surgery.
''We had a meeting with the coach, the physical trainer and the entire medical staff, along with the player,'' Diez said. ''After five or six weeks of work, in which he has felt no improvement, we're all agreed that surgery is necessary.''
Higuain has scored 10 goals from 17 appearances in all competitions this season. He has been a regular in Madrid's lineup since arriving from River Plate in 2007.
Higuain's injury leaves Karim Benzema as Madrid's sole remaining striker. The France striker has three goals in 18 games, of which he has started six.
''If anything happens to Higuain or Benzema, we've got a problem,'' coach Jose Mourinho said earlier this season.
Emmanuel Adebayor of Manchester City and Hugo Almeida of Werder Bremen have reportedly been mentioned as possible striker reinforcements for Madrid in the January transfer window.
Madrid trails leader Barcelona by two points in the Spanish league standings.
