Barnsley winger Jamal Campbell-Ryce will miss Saturday's Championship curtain-raiser at Queens Park Rangers after dislocating his elbow in training.
Campbell-Ryce who came third in the Fans Player of the Year vote last season was all set to take his place in the starting 11 on Saturday but now could be out for a couple of weeks.
Reds boss Simon Davey told www.barnsleyfc.co.uk:
"We have had a bit of a disaster this morning with Jamal. He is in hospital at the moment and it looks as though he has dislocated his elbow.
"He just fell awkwardly. He would have played at QPR and we are gutted for him because he has worked so hard this summer to earn a place in the team.
"If he has dislocated his elbow then you are looking at ten days if they can pop it back in. If it is broken then it could be two months".
Davey is though more hopeful of adding another striker to his squad before the game. Clubs have until 5pm the day before a game to sign a player in time for the match and Davey confirmed he is after a striker from a Premier League club. He told www.barnsleyfc.co.uk:
"We could have someone in to add to that today. We were talking with a Premier League club to get a striker in last week and it fell away on Friday.
"There is a good possibility that it could be revived today and we are just waiting on an answer. A lot of clubs are reluctant to let players to at the moment but we will keep asking and keep knocking on those doors".