Yorkshire all-rounder Rich Pyrah will be out for up to a month after dislocating his right knee while batting against Kent at Canterbury on Sunday.
Pyrah got his studs caught in the turf as he attempted to play a pull shot, although scans have thankfully not revealed any ligament damage.
He could miss four LV= County Championship matches, including at home to Hampshire starting tomorrow and next week’s mouth-watering Roses battle at Liverpool.
But captain Andrew Gale said: “He should be back in time for Twenty20 (June 3).
“We’ve been told that he will be out for between two to four weeks but we won’t rush it because of the workload that bowlers have to get through.
“We’ll probably have to put him through some second-team cricket first.”
Pyrah’s absence is at least offset by Tim Bresnan’s availability for the next two matches against Hampshire and Lancashire.
Bresnan has had injury problems of his own, struggling with a calf issue through the latter half of the winter.
But having played in the 40-over win at Canterbury, he is fit and ready to play his first first-class match since January, when England won the Ashes at Sydney.
Bresnan is one of four candidates for the third seamer’s spot in the England side for the Test series against Sri Lanka, with Chris Tremlett, Steven Finn and county colleague Ajmal Shahzad all possibles for Cardiff in a fortnight.
“There are so many of us vying for the spots and everybody is fit,” said 26-year-old Bresnan.
“That’s why these two Championship games before the Test are really important for me. I need to get some miles into my legs and rhythm back into my bowling.
“I’m excited about this week. It feels like I’ve been in rehab’ forever. I just want to get out and play.”
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