Watford have revealed Nathaniel Chalobah requires a knee operation.

As Mirror Sport revealed first, the Hornets were sweating on the result of a second scan on the left knee Chalobah injured in training last week.

And the news England manager Gareth Southgate feared was confirmed as the bargain £5 million midfielder was told he needs surgery.

The exact nature of Chalobah's injury remains a mystery, although he is thought to have damaged ligaments when kicking a ball – with no tackle or challenge from a third party involved.

Nathaniel Chalobah in action for Watford (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)
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The setback rules him out of England's qualifying double header for Russia 2018 against Slovenia and Lithuania next month and a reunion with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on October 21.

Watford performance director Gavin Benjafield said: “We can't put an exact timeline on his recovery, but we are expecting to see him reintegrating into the squad well before the New Year.”

Chalobah posted a picture of himself on crutches, and with his left knee in a surgical brace, on social media at the weekend after his team-mates had won their third away game in a row, setting a new Watford record in the top flight.