Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis McGugan could be sidelined for up to six weeks after undergoing surgery on a depressed cheekbone fracture.

The 20 year old will have the operation next week once the swelling on the left hand side of his face has gone down.

And McGugan has been told to expect his rehabilitation time from the date of the operation to be between a month and six weeks.

Even once he is given the all-clear to play again, he will have to wear a protective mask for two months.

McGugan sustained the injury in an accidental first half collision with the Watford goalkeeper Scott Loach in last night's 4-2 defeat at The City Ground.