It was a disappointing return to club football for Super Eagles left-back Zaidu Sanusi, who was substituted in his first league game after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations.
Sanusi, who started in the final game of the tournament against the Ivory Coast, also had injury concerns during the recently concluded AFCON, albeit it was on his shoulder.
Unfortunately, his return to action was short-lived as he sustained an injury during Porto's 2-0 victory over Estrella da Amadora in a Portuguese top-flight game on Saturday.
The left-back had to be replaced in the 37th minute by Jorge Sanchez.
Reports from Porto sources indicate that the former Santa Clara defender suffered a complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament and the external lateral ligament of his left knee.
As a result, he is expected to miss the UEFA Champions League clash in midweek against Arsenal and might miss the remainder of the season.
This setback compounds the challenges Sanusi has faced this season, as he has struggled with injuries both in the national setup with the Super Eagles and with his club side, Porto.
Earlier in the campaign, Sanusi endured a three-month absence from the pitch due to injury.
Despite his setbacks, the 26-year-old has managed to feature in just five league matches for Porto this season, finding the back of the net once.
The loss of Sanusi will undoubtedly be felt by both Porto and the Super Eagles, as he has been a key player for both teams when fit.
Now, both club and country will need to find suitable replacements to fill the void left by his absence.
