Leitrim forward Emlyn Mulligan has been ruled out for a number of months as he requires surgery on a cruciate ligament injury.
The news will come as a major blow for the player as well as to the county shortly before the start of their 2017 Connacht Championship campaign.
Mulligan took time out of the 2015 campaign, but returned ahead of last year to play a full part in Leitrim's campaign and has been a major points contributor for the county during his time in the senior inter-county setup.
The Melvin Gaels club man tweeted his disappointment at news of his injury, saying: "Once was bad, never mind twice, but 3 times.... Someone is punishing me from up above. More cruciate's torn than trophies won in my career."
Leitrim begin their Connacht campaign with a quarter final against London on Sunday week, with the winners to face Roscommon for a place in the Connacht football final.
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