Table-topping Championship side Brighton and Hove Albion have been hit by the news that Liam Rosenior and Kazenga LuaLua have been ruled out for around a month, likely keeping them out until the New Year.
LuaLua started the season on electric form but has not featured since mid-September due to injury, and he has recently undergone minor surgery on his groin.
The 24-year-old Congolese winger was expected to return before Christmas but this latest setback has delayed his comeback even further.
Rosenior suffers injury in Birmingham win
Rosenior, meanwhile, was taken off mid-way through the first half of the Seagulls' 2-1 win over Birmingham City at the weekend with a medial knee injury.
The former Hull City full-back joined Brighton over the summer after relegation from the top flight with the Tigers, and he has featured in 16 of their 18 games in the league this season.
Jones confident despite 'frustrating' defeat
Nathan Jones, a former Brighton defender now working at the club as a coach, spoke to BBC Sussex to praise the in-form Rosenior, insisting that there is enough cover within the playing squad to cope with his absence.
Jones noted that Rosenior's versatility had been a useful tool for the South Coast side, as he has played on both sides of the defence this season and performed well in each position.
Coach Jones made over 150 league appearances for Brighton - image via seagulls.co.uk
Yet, while Jones admitted it was "frustrating" to lose a key first-team player, he maintained that manager Chris Hughton is "happy" with the strength in depth of his squad.
Brighton look to continue defying the odds
Brighton were hardly mentioned in pre-season talk of promotion favourites, but they have defied expectations so far this term and are currently unbeaten and two points clear at the top of the Championship.
They face relegation-threatened Charlton Athletic at home this weekend, but Rosenior and LuaLua will then miss a key set of fixtures at the beginning of the festive period.
After the Charlton game, Brighton face title-chasing Derby County and Middlesbrough, either side of a potentially tricky trip to a QPR side who could by then be under the management of former Netherlands striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
Hasselbaink is currently manager of League One leaders Burton Albion having taken them up from the fourth tier last season, but is now in talks with Rangers over taking the vacant managerial role at the London club.