Tyrone's Brian McGuigan will miss this Sunday's Ulster Championship opener against Fermangh as a result of an eye injury and could miss the entire Ulster campaign.
The Arboe man damaged a retina when making his comeback during a club game last Sunday and will undergo an operation this Friday. Having missed the entire 2006 campaign with a broken leg, he was playing in a reserve game against Aghyaran on Sunday.
It's thought McGuigan will be out for at least two months but could be longer depending on the success of the operation. The centrehalf forward already has eight stitches to the wound but recovery will be prolonged due to the internal damage.
The news means manager Mickey Harte has to prepare without McGuigan, Stephen O'Neill (hamstring) and Martin Penrose (knee), while Owen Mulligan and Raymond Mulgrew are both doubtful.