Bournemouth defender Chris Mepham has been ruled out for 12 weeks with a knee injury sustained in the 4-0 win against Luton in the FA Cup third round.
The Wales international sustained the injury in last weekend's 4-0 win against Luton in the FA Cup third round.
It will come as bad news to manager Eddie Howe, who has seen his injury-hit side fall into the Premier League relegation zone after three defeats in their last four league matches.
Mepham signed for Bournemouth from Brentford last January for £12m and has since made 24 Premier League appearances for the Cherries.
Bournemouth are already without key central defender Nathan Ake, who has been linked with a move away this month.
Ake was initially forecast to be sidelined for six weeks, which would mean he is due to return in the next few weeks.