New West Ham signing Julien Faubert has been ruled out for six months with a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Faubert was injured during West Ham's 1-0 friendly defeat against Czech side Sigma Olomouc in Austria on 17 July and has returned to France for surgery.
The 23-year-old France midfielder joined the Hammers from Bordeaux for £6.1m on 1 July.
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley told his club's website: "It's a devastating blow for everybody, especially Julien."
Curbishley's frustration at seeing one of his key summer signings ruled out until the New Year was evident.
"Julien had fitted in so well and was showing all the attributes needed to be a success in the Premiership," he explained.
"Two to three days is the key time for this injury and everything will be done and in place for Julien within that period"
"You could see in the short bit of football he has played with us that he was going to be a big hit with the supporters - so to lose him after an hour of football and just two weeks at the Club is a big disappointment."
George Cooper, head physio at Upton Park, added: "The injury was completely out of the blue.
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"Julien has no history of any Achilles problems, and this kind of rupture is usually pre-disposed by past steroid injections in the area - something he has never had - so it is a major shock.
"On the plus side, we have managed to get him to a top surgeon in Strasbourg, who has successfully operated on the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Lilian Thuram in the past, so he is in very good hands.
"Two to three days is the key time for this injury and everything will be done and in place for Julien within that period."
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