Fulham winger Manor Solomon will undergo knee surgery this week and is set to be about for the ‘long term’, according to head coach Marco Silva.
Solomon, 23, suffered the injury on Sunday, a day after he made his Premier League debut from the bench against Liverpool, and Silva believes the injury blow will make the position a priority in the transfer window.
Solomon is a new signing at Craven Cottage, having joined from Shakhtar Donetsk on a temporary one-year deal earlier this month.
He will have surgery in the next few days, and after that we will be more sure about the timeline," said Silva.
It looks a long-term injury. Let's see."
Solomon joins Wales international Harry Wilson on the sidelines, who suffered a knee injury during a behind-closed doors match with Aston Villa before the start of the season. Silva said that while he does not think Solomon will be out for the majority of the season, he believes Wilson could be back sooner.
We have to see week by week," he said of Wilson. "It doesn't look as long as Manor Solomon. It could be six to eight weeks, which would be a long-term injury for us. We are talking many games without two players to play."
ilva said that wingers Ivan Cavaleiro and Anthony Knockaert were not in his plans for the season, a decision made at the start of the summer. The two new injuries mean the position is now a priority in the transfer window, as well as a midfielder.
At this level we can't have no solutions on the bench," said Silva. "The way we play, it is a position that we demand a lot from, in our philosophy. It's a position we need fresh legs for in a game. We can adapt some players there, but it's not the same thing.
It's something urgent for us."
Fulham's Nathaniel Chalobah returned to training this week after an injury absence. The west Londoners travel to Wolves for their next top flight fixture.