Crewe Alexandra boss Steve Davis has revealed that youngster Ryan Colclough will miss the next three to six weeks of the season after learning that he requires surgery.
The winger is expected to go under the knife later this week to rectify an abdominal problem, which has harmed his progress over the last couple of weeks.
Davis told the club's official website: "Unfortunately Ryan is going to need an operation on his stomach, there is a tear in there that needs repairing and he will be out for three-six weeks and that is a blow."
Colclough, 19, has made 25 league appearances for Crewe, scoring three times in the process.