Stoke City forward Osaze Odemwingie looks set to spend much of the season on the sidelines as it is feared he tore a cruciate ligament in his knee against Manchester City on Saturday.

The Nigerian international was a second half substitute at the Etihad Stadium but was stretchered off 20 minutes after coming on when he landed awkwardly on trying to control the ball.

The Premier League club has however not confirmed the extent of Odemwingie’s injury, though it was enough to make manager Mark Hughes bring in Oussama Assaidi from Liverpool on a season-long loan.

According to Hughes on Assaidi’s second loan spell at Stoke, ”We are still assessing Peter’s injury. But it is important that we get in somebody, someone that we know.”

Odemwingie was not invited to the Super Eagles squad to face Congo and South Africa in Cup of Africa Nations qualifying matches, though this injury could rule him out of contention for a place at Morocco 2015 if Nigeria qualify.