Doncaster Rovers defender Bongani Khumalo has been ruled out for the rest of the season after picking up a serious knee injury whilst on International duty with South Africa.
Playing for the Bafana Bafana in last night's friendly against Brazil, Khumalo landed awkwardly when challenging for a header and was substituted inside 20 minutes.
Scans then revealed Bongani had ruptured the patella tendon in his knee and the injury means he will miss the rest of the campaign.
Doncaster manager Paul Dickov spoke to Rovers Player about Khumalo and said: “We are all devastated for him, he is having an operation in South Africa today and that rules him out not only for this season, but also a large part of next season as well.
“Away from it being a massive blow to us, it is also a massive blow for Bongani because he has done really well for us this season.
“Off the pitch he is such a humble guy and when an injury as bad as this happens to someone like that, who the players are really close to and have a lot of respect for is a real disappointment.
“It is even more disappointing for Bongani, football is football, but this really is a serious injury he has picked up.”
Khumalo has been ever present at the heart of the Rovers defence, since joining the club on a season-long loan from Tottenham Hotspur in August.
The defender made 32 appearances for the Doncaster and scored his only goal in the Capital One Cup first round victory against Rochdale, when his dramatic late header gave Rovers a 1-0 victory over the Sky Bet League Two side.
Khumalo will now return to parent club Tottenham for treatment and everyone at Doncaster Rovers would like to wish Bongani all the best in his recovery.