Tottenham forward Son Heung-min is to have surgery to stabilise a fracture around his left eye which could rule him out of the World Cup.
“Following surgery, Son will commence rehabilitation with our medical staff and we shall update supporters further in due course,” said a Spurs statement.
Son helped South Korea qualify for the World Cup, which starts on 20 November.
Tottenham have not said when Son will have surgery and have not put a timescale on how long the forward will be out for.
Son has scored 35 goals in 104 appearances for his country, who are in Group H with Portugal, Ghana and Uruguay.
In the more immediate future, the injury is a blow for Spurs, who host Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday (16:30 GMT).
Antonio Conte’s side are third in the Premier League table – five points behind leaders Arsenal having played one game more – then face Nottingham Forest away in the third round of the Carabao Cup on 9 November and Leeds United at home in the league on 12 November before the break for the World Cup.
Son has had his form questioned this season but scored a hat-trick after coming on as a substitute in the 6-2 win over Leicester on 17 September and netted twice against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on 12 October.
