The Italian FA have revealed on their website that Liverpool striker Fabio Borini has suffered a fractured right foot.
Borini, who was training with the Under-21 side ahead of Friday night's European Championship qualifier clash with Sweden, went for an MRI scan on Thursday which revealed the injury.
The news will be a major blow to Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, who now only has one recognised senior striker in Luis Suarez.
The 21-year-old joined Liverpool from Roma in July for a fee of around £10.5million.
He played under Rodgers in the Championship with Swansea in the closing stages of the 2010-11 season, helping them claim a place in the Premier League.
Swansea signed him on loan from Chelsea, who he rarely figured for after joining from Bologna in 2007.
Borini has played 10 matches for Liverpool this season, scoring just once - in the Europa League qualifying win over Gomel in August.
With Andy Carroll on a season-long loan to Premier League rivals West Ham, Rodgers is facing a striking dilemma ahead of the next match, at home to Reading on October 20.
