Damien Johnson will discover today the full extent of the hamstring injury that forced him to limp away from St Andrew's after Birmingham City's 1-0 defeat to Everton last Saturday.
The Northern Ireland international midfield player, who has been impressive during an otherwise disappointing start to the season for Birmingham, could be absent for the match away to Newcastle United on Saturday.
If Johnson misses out, Birmingham will have eight players out through injury and the battle to climb out of trouble will become more difficult.
These are difficult times for Steve Bruce, the Birmingham manager, who will no doubt consider what might have been had he taken charge of the Newcastle team in the summer of 2004.
Since then, Birmingham have been an a downward spiral and Johnson's problem adds further insult to injury.
"He [Johnson] got injured on Saturday and is going to have a scan," Bruce said. "When we get the results back, we will know how serious it is but it doesn't look too good at the minute."
David Dunn, Stephen Clemence, Julian Gray, Muzzy Izzet, Mario Melchiot, Mehdi Nafti and Stan Lazaridis are all injured and Bruce must be wondering when the nightmare is going to end.
"Midfield is a problem because there could be nine players out," Bruce said. "But we've just got to get on with it. In the past couple of matches, Damien has been our best player by a million miles.
" When you are in the trenches and in a fight, he is the sort of player you need in there. He has possibly been, pound for pound, as good a signing as I have ever made.
"He has played right back, left back, right wing, middle of the midfield. The only places I probably haven't picked him have been goalkeeper and centre back - and I am sure he could do those as well."
For once, Bruce is pleased that an international week is coming up, therefore providing a much-needed break from the pressures of life in the Premiership.
"We have got to get over Newcastle then we have 16 days after that, with Martin Grainger's testimonial slotted in there. I am hoping, by then, we will see the return of most of the missing players."
Nicky Butt, the midfield player, will be fit to face Newcastle. The England international was substituted in the first half against Everton with concussion.
