Jon Dahl Tomasson is expected to be ruled out of action for Feyenoord until the new year.
The 34-year-old striker suffered a thigh injury whilst playing for Denmark at the World Cup and Feyenoord coach Mario Been fears the forward could now be unavailable until January.
He told the Algemeen Dagblad website: “I have long hoped to have him back quickly, but the messages I get now are far from optimistic.
“It is still at least a few weeks. I fear he is unavailable for the winter.”
Tomasson sustained a thigh injury when coach Morten Olsen had already made his three substitutions during the World Cup group stage match against Japan.
“This seriously aggravated the injury,” said club doctor Casper van Eijck.
Van Eijck realised that the problem was more serious than initially feared when Tomasson was forced out of a light fitness session last month.
“There is an added injury – a muscular injury,” he said.
“It is a complex issue and annoying for the club and especially for Jon himself.”