Garry Monk delivers Steven Fletcher injury bombshell ahead of Yorkshire derby at Leeds United

The Scottish forward writhed in agony holding his knee having landed awkwardly in an aerial challenge with Seagulls defender Gaetan Bong and was replaced by Sam Winnall just before the hour mark.

Fletcher has scored 12 goals this season and was voted as the club’s player of the month for December. His absence was keenly felt over the festive period when a virus kept him out of three back-to-back defeats to Stoke, Cardiff and Hull.

Monk admitted his side will miss the presence of his talismanic front man – who he expects to be out for ‘eight to 10 weeks’ – he said there was ‘good and bad news’ with regard to his medical assessment.

It was confirmed that Fletcher does no require surgery and he has already begun rehabilitation.

Monk said: “When you looked at his initial reaction and how he was, it looked like it was very serious.

“He’s had the scan and we thought it looked like it was going to be a very serious one, but he’s come back and structurally his knee is fine.

“He will be out for a significant period in that he’ll be out for roughly about eight to 10 weeks.”

Monk reiterated the need to add firepower to his squad in the January transfer window, admitting the nature of Fletcher’s injury changes the landscape of where they are at.

The club have been linked with several potential loan signings, with the Owls boss admitting it is the loan market they are likely to be working in.

“It’s a blow for us, when it comes to any player, but especially when it’s your top scorer in such a good run of form,” he said.

“It’s bittersweet really in that it could potentially have been a season-ender, but it’s still a bit of a blow because it is a significant period.”