Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher has been ruled out for up to six weeks with a shoulder injury, interim coach Kevin Ball said on Friday.
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The Scotland international dislocated his shoulder during Saturday's 3-0 Premier League defeat at West Bromwich Albion, a result that left them bottom of the table and prompted the sacking of manager Paolo Di Canio.
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It had been thought that Fletcher could be sidelined for several months, but Ball gave a more positive prognosis.
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"Hopefully, it will be four to six weeks which is great," Ball was quoted as saying on the BBC.
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Fletcher was Sunderland's top scorer last season with 11 league goals but missed the end of the campaign and the start of this one with an ankle injury.
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He will also be ruled out of Scotland's final World Cup qualifier against Croatia on October 15.