Lebohang Maboe has not recovered from the ankle injury suffered against Lamontville Golden Arrows last month and will be missing when Kaizer Chiefs host Stellenbosch at Soccer City on Tuesday.
Maboe’s injury meant he had to pull out of the Bafana Bafana squad for the two Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea, as well as the friendly international against Egypt in Cairo.
Chiefs said in a statement that Maboe was one of four major injury concerns, with Brandon Petersen returning to individual training as he recovers from a knee injury and Langelihle Phili and Siphesihle Ndlovu remaining long-term absentees.
Maboe’s absence will come as a particular blow to Chiefs, who have dropped off the pace in the Betway Premiership after drawing four of their last five matches.
Chiefs have 13 points from their seven games this season, four more than visitors Stellenbosch, who won their last away outing at Kruger United in the middle of last month before the international window.