Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan suffered an injury as Shanghai SIPG knocked off the top of the Chinese Super League with a humbling 3-0 defeat to Guangzhou Evergrande on Saturday.
The 29-year-old had to be replaced after just 18 minutes in what is suspected to be an aggravation of a knee injury he was carrying.
Gyan was unable to play for Ghana last week during the international break after sustaining a knock on his knee.
He had been working all week to get himself in shape for the weekend’s clash against the star-studded Evergrande coached by former Chelsea boss Luis Felipe Scolari.
But all his hard work was undone just over the quarter of an hour mark and had to be replaced.
Shanghai SIPG went on to lose the game 3-0 before their home fans.
Brazilian Robinho scored the opener for the visitors after 22 minutes – four minutes after Gyan has been hurled off the pitch.
Ricardo Goulart and Erikeson scored late in the second half to complete a vital win for Felipe Scolari’s side who are now two points clear off Shanghai SIPG at the summit of the league with five games to go.
The severity of Gyan’s injury will be known after further tests which could well eat into the rest of the weekend.
The striker picked up the knee knock while on international duty with the Black Stars ahead of their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda which he eventually sat out.
Shanghai SIPG will now have to do their bit in winning their remaining games while hoping their victorious rivals stutter in order to clinch their first Chinese top flight title.