Dundalk have confirmed that forward Ciaran Kilduff faces months on the sidelines with a back injury.

The 27-year-old suffered broken vertebrae in his back after a challenge in the Premier Division champions' EA Sports Cup clash with St Patrick's Athletic this week.

"It is a big disappointment for us to lose Ciaran. It’s a very unusual injury. Brendan Clarke went through the back of him and that’s left him with broken vertebrae in his back," manager Stephen Kenny told the club website.

"The scan has presented a complex injury. He has to wear a back brace for the next six weeks and he is facing several months out."