Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone will undergo an ankle operation on Monday, manager Harry Redknapp has confirmed.
The 24-year-old has made four appearances for Spurs this season, the most recent of which came as a second-half substitute in the 5-1 home defeat against Manchester City on August 28.
Redknapp said: "He needs another operation. He's already had one but there is still a problem with him. It's a blow. He will be out for a while."
Huddlestone has established himself as a key figure in the Spurs set-up in recent years following his move to White Hart Lane from Derby in July 2005.
He made more starts than any other outfield player in all competitions in the 2009/10 season as Tottenham finished fourth in the Barclays Premier League to qualify for the Champions League for the first time.
Comfortable in either midfield or central-defensive roles, Huddlestone captained the north London team on several occasions last term, including the memorable Champions League group-stage clashes with Inter Milan.
He won the first of his three England caps in November 2009 against Brazil and was named in manager Fabio Capello's provisional World Cup squad last summer, only to not make the final cut.