Hornets defender Joel Ekstrand could be ruled out for nine months after he damaged his cruciate ligament in his left knee during the Hornets’ defeat to Ipswich Town on Saturday.

The Swedish international suffered the injury during the first-half of the game. He was caught up field and attempted to challenge Ipswich full-back Tyrone Mings. The pair collided and Ekstrand awkwardly fell to the ground.

He immediately signalled he was injured and, after several minutes of treatment, the centre-back was stretchered off the field.

Hornets head coach Slavisa Jokanovic said after the match that the 26-year-old’s injury “might be serous”.

Watford head of medical Richard Collinge has today provided an update and said the centre-back will have to undergo surgery.

"He (Ekstrand) caught his studs in the turf and has damaged his cruciate ligament in his left knee,” Collinge told the club’s website.

“He'll have surgery in a week or so's time, then it is rehab after that. The feeling for this type of injury is around the nine months mark to get back."

Almen Abdi has missed Watford’s last two matches after limping off against Reading with a hamstring problem in his right leg.

Collinge confirmed the Swiss maestro will start running outside tomorrow and is “working hard to get right”.

Fernando Forestieri was also absent for Saturday’s defeat to Ipswich but has returned to training while Collinge says he is happy with Sean Murray’s rehabilitation from a knee injury and hopes the midfielder will be fully fit for the Hornets’ 2015/2016 pre-season campaign