Australian midfielder Danny Tiatto may require surgery for a hernia after being forced off injured at half-time in Manchester City's St Stephen's Day win over Aston Villa.
The midfielder was undergoing tests today to determine the extent of the injury. If Tiatto is ruled out, it will increase the likelihood of City boss Kevin Keegan entering the transfer market when the signing window opens in January.
"With Danny getting the injury which could be, and at this stage I am only saying could be, long term we may have to look at it with relation to the transfer window and bringing in a player," Keegan said.
"It could be strain or a hernia, we will have to wait and see but he will not be available for the trip to Fulham."
Niclas Jensen is now set to regain his place in the starting line up which he lost at the end of November for the win over Bolton.
"Niclas came on at the start of the second half and I thought, like Ali Benarbia, he was back to his best. I thought Niclas needed a break having played in the World Cup," Keegan said.
"A lot of players who played in the World Cup suddenly hit a brick wall at different times. With Niclas it was November but he was back to his old self in the game against Villa."
"Things are coming on nicely and we just have to keep going, we are in the top half of the table and hopefully we can build on that instead of passing the opportunity by."