Real Sociedad coach David Moyes has been struck with a major injury blow as striker Carlos Vela has been ruled out for eight weeks.

The Mexico international twisted his knee during Saturday’s 4-1 defeat to Real Madrid and was operated on earlier today. The Basque club announced that the surgery went well, but La Real will be without the striker for two months.

It had been reported earlier that the injury was season-ending, but club officials have reacted quickly to dispel that rumor.

“Carlos Vela underwent arthroscopic surgery this morning to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee,” the club said in a statement earlier on Monday.

“Vela will remain in the hospital until tomorrow and if there are no complications, he will be able to go home to begin his recovery progress at the club’s sporting headquarters in Zubieta.”

“The expected recovery time for the player to return to play varies but in the majority of cases it is achieved after eight weeks of rehabilitation.”

Vela is set to miss La Real’s next eight La Liga matches. David Moyes’ side is currently in thirteenth place in the Primera Division, only four points clear of the relegation zone.

With goals being hard to come by for the Basque club, the loss of their Mexican striker couldn’t come at a worse time. Vela has scored seven goals in 20 matches this season for La Real but has taken on an increasingly vital role at the club since David Moyes took charge in November.