The All Whites striker Rory Fallon is expected to miss the rest of September and probably his matches for New Zealand after undergoing a hernia operation.
It was hoped that Fallon, who plays for Plymouth Argyle in the English third division, would play for the All Whites against Honduras and Paraguay in New Zealand on the 9th and 12th of next month.
The groin injury, which was operated on at the weekend, ended any prospect of him leaving Argyle before last week's transfer deadline.
His contract with Argyle ends next year and it is believed the club were keen to cash in on the 28-year-old.
Fallon has missed the last two games and manager Peter Reid says he imagines he will be out for about another month.
