Motherwell defender Bevis Mugabi is looking at a two-month recovery from a knee injury sustained in their defeat to Celtic on Wednesday night.
The Ugandan international was forced off early on in the first half of the clash at Fir Park after a challenge by Aaron Mooy and was ruled out of today's 1-1 draw with St Johnstone in Perth.
Hammell admitted the centre-back suffered a "serious" knee injury in his post-match interview in midweek and has now revealed the club expect him to be out of action for potentially two months.
On Mugabi's injury, Hammell said: "Bevis got a scan on his knee yesterday so we will probably find out what the case will be with him tomorrow.
"It's looking like maybe 6-8 weeks.
"But we are hoping it isn't going to be any longer than that."
Fortunately, the World Cup break means it will be five weeks before the Steelmen are back in action - on December 17 at home to St Mirren - so that will soften the blow slightly for the Steelmen in terms of it affecting their Premiership campaign.
The Fir Park side are ninth in the table, but just six points off third-place Livingston heading into the top flight shutdown.
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