AS Roma midfielder, Kevin Strootman will be out for an extended period after knee surgery on Friday revealed further complications.

Strootman underwent surgery last March to reconstruct a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and was sidelined for nine months.

The Netherland international, 24, was initially expected to be sidelined for not less than a month with Cyclops Syndrome, a condition which can cause pain and swelling to individuals who have undergone cruciate ligament surgery.

But following “successful” surgery on Friday, Strootman wrote on his Twitter wall that he may be set for longer period on the sidelines.

He wrote: “The scar tissue from my previous operation has been removed successfully today. Unfortunately some cartilaginous damage, caused by the knock in the Fiorentina match, was found too.

“This means I have to take a longer rest period than anticipated earlier and I am extremely disappointed that it will take much longer before I can be back on the pitch again.”

Strootman has made just six appearances this season. Second-placed Roma trail Italian Serie A leaders Juventus by seven points. They are through to the Coppa Italia quarter-finals and play Feyenoord in the last 32 of the Uefa Europa Leeague next month.