Walsall Head Coach Michael Flynn has spoken to club journalists and confirmed that club captain Joss Labadie has suffered a knee injury that is set to keep him out for nine months.
31-year-old Labadie was forced off during Saturday's victory over Port Vale, which saw Sam Perry and Emmanuel Osadebe score to put a dent in the visitors' hopes of achieving automatic promotion.
Joss joins both Rory Holden and Conor Wilkinson on the long-term injury list, with club officials now counting the cost of three first-teamers wages going out but nothing in terms of on-field productivity coming in.
Saddlers boss Flynn admitted he is hopeful that Labadie and Wilkinson will come back stronger, but is also frustrated to lose another key player for such a long period of time.
Speaking via the club's official website, Flynn said; "He's out for nine months, done his ACL.
"I've seen Joss go down many times holding his knee, fearing the worst, and then been clear, and this time I thought there was absolutely nothing wrong with it. It's crazy.
"I'm gutted for Joss as he's done it before – not the same leg, it's the different leg this time. It's another key player for me that is going to be missing for a long time.
"It's a kick in the teeth and again, it could affect what we're trying to do as there's two wages that are out of the equation.
"It's something I've got to be mindful of, but my first thoughts are with Joss and Conor, and that they have the best rehab they can. Hopefully, they'll be back stronger than before the injuries."