A scan has shown that Braintree Town's loanee striker Bernard Mensah will need an operation on the knee injury that he picked up in a tackle by Lincoln City's Tom Miller last week.
Braintree manager Alan Devonshire described the challenge as "horrendous" and "scandalous" after referee Daniel Cook only issued Miller with a red card.
Mensah, who was on loan with the Iron from Championship side Watford until the end of the season, said directly after the game that he hoped be may be able to play again this season.
However, a scan has shown damage to his knee that requires an operation that may deny him the chance to return before the end of the campaign.
He said: "The scan showed that I've got a bucket handle tear in the meniscus of my knee and some floating cartilage in there as well.
"I'm booked in to have the operation on Friday and I'll have to wait and see how the surgery goes before I can say if I'll be back this season or not."
The news will come as a blow to both Mensah himself and Braintree as he has proved a very popular addition at the Amlin Stadium since coming to the Iron from Watford.
He has scored two goals and had a number of assists for team-mates in an impressive spell while on loan.
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