Hamilton Accies defender Jesus Garcia Tena will be ruled out for at least six months with a knee injury.

The Spaniard picked up the injury in Accies' first game of the season in the League Cup against Ayr United, sustaining knee ligament damage.

After scans and consultations it has now been confirmed that Garcia Tena will miss as much as six months of action. He will undergo an operation later this week.

"It is a big blow to lose a player of Jesus' technical ability so early in the season," said manager Martin Canning.

"He is a great reader of the game and his skill set will be a big miss for us.

"We wish him well with his operation and subsequent rehab where I am sure he will receive the best of attention."