Fiorentina's Mario Gomez is facing up to three months on the sidelines after suffering a right knee injury in a 1-1 draw with Cagliari on Sunday.
Former Bayern Munich striker Gomez was one of Vincenzo Montella's key signings in the summer but had to be stretchered off four minutes into the second half after clashing with Cagliari 'keeper Michael Agazzi.
The German gave club bosses hope when he asked to walk off the pitch despite initially being carried off on a stretcher.
Early reports suggested he had avoided serious injury, but domestic news agency ANSA reported Gomez had suffered a "sprained knee with a partial lesion of the medial collateral ligament".
If confirmed, it could sideline the German for two to three months, and means he will miss key Serie A games as well as Fiorentina's group campaign in the Europa League, which begins Thursday at home against Pacos Ferreira.
Fiorentina will also be sweating on the availability of Colombian midfielder Cuadrado.
He suffered a knock to his right shoulder in a clash with Radja Nainggolan and had to be replaced. He avoided a fracture but is reported to have suffered a dislocated shoulder.
Fiorentina's first draw of the season means they spurned the chance to move up to second place behind leaders Napoli.
La Viola now sit in third, two points behind Napoli and on the same tally as second-placed Inter and Juventus, in fourth. Fiorentina suffered further woe when David Pizarro saw red in the dying minutes for dissent.
Source: AFP
