Ghana's Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu will miss the start of the Serie A season after undergoing knee surgery last week.
The Udinese midfielder told KweséESPN that he will be out for a minimum of six weeks and expects to be back in action in the first week of September.
"I have had a bit of pain in my knees since January, when I picked up an injury in Turkey, and even though I tried to cope, we decided with the Udinese team doctor that it will be better to correct it now," Badu began.
"It means I will start of the season, but I am hoping this sets me up for the full season properly."
The 27-year-old spent last season on loan with Super Lig side Bursaspor, but despite being keen to consider his options for a move away from Udine, will now be unable to move during the current window.
"I wanted an injury-free season," he continued. "It's also better than I took this decision so that I can have a very good season.
"I was always playing with pain which was not helpful."
Badu made 19 Super Lig appearances for Bursaspor last term as his temporary employers finished 13th in the Turkish top flight.
He moved to Udinese from Berekum Arsenal in 2010 having spent time on loan with Asante Kotoko and Recreativo de Huelva.
He won both the African Youth Championship and the U-20 World Cup with Ghana, and has represented the Black Stars at five African Cup of Nations tournaments and the 2014 World Cup.
"Between September and January, I will have to be at my very best and then we will see what's next," the midfielder concluded. "At the moment my priority is to ensure I am fit, and to play again."