UEFA Champions League contenders LOSC Lille will be denied the services of captain Rio Mavuba for up to three months as the midfielder recovers from a knee injury.

Mavuba suffered meniscus damage during LOSC's 2-0 Ligue 1 defeat at Stade Rennais FC on 28 September and is now set to undergo surgery after missing LOSC's 2-0 UEFA Champions League defeat at Valencia CF on Tuesday. "I'm not a doctor, but that usually means an absence of six weeks to three months," said LOSC coach Rudi Garcia. "It's not good news, that's for sure, but we'll have to cope."

The 28-year-old is now certain to sit out the home and away fixtures with FC Bayern München on 23 October and 7 November as bottom side LOSC look to collect their first points in Group F. He could be unavailable until the new year and will also miss France's crucial 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying trip to Spain on 16 October.