Kerry boss Jack O'Connor admits it is "tough luck" on Stefan Okonbor after he suffered a serious shoulder injury on Saturday night.
Okunbor sustained the injury in Na Gaeil's All-Ireland club intermediate football championship semi-final loss to Steelston.
The incident occurred late in the game and forced a 20-minute delay as he was treated on the pitch before he was taken by ambulance from the Connacht Centre of Excellence.
It is thought that he suffered a dislocated shoulder.
The Tralee man returned to his native Kerry last year after a spell in the AFL with Geelong Cats and, having impressed for St Brendan's and Na Gaeil was called up by O'Connor to the Kerry squad.
It was believed that he earmarked for an important role with the Kingdom this year.
He played 35 minutes in midfield for Kerry in a McGrath Cup clash with Limerick three weeks ago and was due to return to inter-county duty after his club commitments.
However those plans are now on hold for the forseeable future, with his season probably at an end.
The injury occured when Okunbor fell over his own goalkeeper Devon Burns and landed on his shoulder as they defended a Steelstown attack.
Reacting to Okunbor's injury following Kerry's opening NFL draw with Kildare in Newbridge, O'Connor said: "I tried to message him but he didn’t get back to me.
"I’m not sure where he is, he might be in hospital. Yeah, it's tough luck on him.
"We’ll have a chat with the other Na Gaeil lads (Jack Barry, Andrew Barry and Diarmuid O’Connor) to see if they’re interested in being involved next weekend (against Dublin)."
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