City boss Phil Parkinson fears James Meredith could possibly miss the rest of the season after it was confirmed that the Australian defender is suffering with a form of glandular fever.
Meredith, who hasn't featured since coming off sick at half time at Morecambe on New Year's Day, was given the news by doctors at the back end of last week following the results of blood tests.
Glandular fever isn't life-threatening but it can take an affected person several weeks or even months to completely recover from given the energy-sapping nature of the illness.
Meredith spent the weekend in hospital following his diagnosis but was discharged this morning.
With Meredith being one of City's most regular starters this season so far, Parkinson is understandably disappointed to lose the defender's services, and acknowledges that it could be some time before City fans see him back in action again.
Parkinson said: "With James, we did fear something wasn't quite right."
"We now know that James has a strain of glandular fever.
"We are still waiting to see how long exactly the doctors feel he will be out for, but anyone who has had glandular fever before will know it can take a fair length of time to get over.
"It is a real blow for us because Mez has been terrific so far this season.
"He's a great lad, a real winner, a leader, but unfortunately these sort of things can happen.
"Our concern now is with James and his health, and we have to make sure that is right."