ROBBIE Brady is set to be out of the rest of the season after scans revealed he had torn a tendon in his knee.

The Burnley winger was stretchered off with his left knee in a brace after falling awkwardly n the defeat Leicester City on Saturday.

Brady went straight to hospital and the injury is as serious first feared and the Republic of Ireland will now see a specialist with a ruptured patellar tendon the diagnosis.

Clarets boss Sean Dyche said Brady would now undergo surgery and would be given 'time and care' as he recovers from the setback.

“Robbie will have surgery to repair a patellar tendon tear and will be out for a substantial recovery period," Dyche said.

“He will be given all the time and care he needs on his recovery and supported throughout from all of us at Burnley Football Club.”

The injury has come just as the £13million winger was beginning to show his best form for the Clarets, contributing a goal and an assist in the win over Bournemouth and turning in a string of impressive displays.

His teammate for Burnley and international colleague Stephen Ward said earlier in the week a long-term absence for Brady would be a major blow for the Clarets.

"He's been outstanding for us recently and if it is bad he'll be a massive loss for us," he said.

Brady is the sixth Burnley player to suffer a serious knee injury in four-and-a-half years, with Sam Vokes, Kevin Long, Dean Marney, Ashley Barnes and Lukas Jutkiewicz all being diagnosed with cruciate ligament injuries, with Marney close to a first-team return after his second such injury in three years.

The Clarets were in the market for a winger in the summer transfer window, with a loan move for Everton's Aaron Lennon falling through, and with Brady now out long-term it is likely to be an area Sean Dyche is keen to strengthen in January.