Bury defender Phil Picken will miss the entire 2013/14 season after an accident at the gym set back his recovery from a cruciate ligament injury.
Picken was on the road to full fitness after sustaining a serious knee injury in September and he was due to return with the squad to pre-season training next month.
But the 27-year-old will now have to undergo the complete cruciate rebuild again, ruling him out of the Shakers' npower League Two campaign.
A statement on Bury's website read: "Naturally we all wish Phil a speedy recovery as he starts the long recovery process again."