Joel Ekstrand: Watford defender set to miss rest of year with injury

Ekstrand has played 100 times for Watford

Watford defender Joel Ekstrand is expected to be out until December with a cruciate knee ligament injury.

The 26-year-old Swede, who has played 25 times for the Championship promotion chasers, will undergo surgery on his left knee.

He suffered the injury in Saturday's 1-0 loss to Ipswich.

"The feeling for this type of injury is around the nine months mark to get back," said Hornets head of medical Richard Collinge.