Last updated on .From the section Football

Daniel Pinillos (right) has started 19 of Forest's 22 Championship matches this season

Nottingham Forest left-back Daniel Pinillos is expected to be out for the rest of the season after confirming he ruptured knee ligaments in the 2-1 victory over MK Dons on Saturday.

The 23-year-old Spaniard was injured in the second half and said on Twitter external-link he had damaged his anterior cruciate.

Pinillos joined Forest in July after leaving Spanish side Cordoba following their relegation from La Liga.

He has started 19 of Forest's 22 Championship matches this season.

Former Forest defender Julian Bennett suffered a similar injury in December 2008 and was out for 14 months.

He told BBC Radio Nottingham he expected Pinillos would be sidelined until around September 2016.

"Hopefully, it will be around the nine-month mark if it is the cruciate ligament," Bennett said.

"But it depends on what other damage is in the knee as well. You don't want to be rushing back too quick and causing more problems for yourself.

"It will be a massive miss. He has settled in really well and been a star performer. He has brought a lot of stability to the defence and added a great deal going forward as well.

"He has a lot of hard work and a long journey ahead of him. But the medical staff at Forest are top notch and he has the support around him."