Michael Dawson will miss Hull City's festive fixtures after being ruled out of action until mid January, boss Steve Bruce has confirmed today.
Dawson was substituted early in last weekend's 2-0 defeat at Chelsea, having complained of tightness in his muscle.
Now, scans have revealed he will be out for a minimum of three to five weeks.
That will see the centre-back miss this weekend's arrival of Swansea, as well as games against Sunderland, Leicester, Everton and West Brom.
"It's a grade two tear like we thought so we're looking at three, four or five weeks minimum, which unfortunately has happened to us too much.
"It's been one thing after the other. It's part and parcel of it but we could do with a bit more luck.
"We've got three or four with pretty ugly injuries but we have to get on with it."
Dawson joins midfielder Mo Diame on the sidelines as he still has his knee in a brace to try to cure his tendonitis.
