Aston Villa defender Martin Laursen has been ruled out of action for up to three months.
Laursen had only been expected to be out for a month after collecting an injury during Villa’s 4-0 Carling Cup defeat at Chelsea on Wednesday, however, he could now miss at least 10 weeks.
“Martin is going to be out for some considerable time – we could be talking ten weeks or maybe three months,” O’Neill told the club’s official website.
“It’s a real blow for him and of course for us. Martin has done well this season and he’d worked so hard to get back to full fitness.”