Isaac Mabaya is set to return to his parent club Liverpool for surgery after suffering a serious injury last week.

The 20-year-old defender, who joined Wigan Athletic on a season-long loan deal from the Reds, sustained an Achilles injury in the Carabao Cup first-round match against Notts County on Wednesday.

The injury requires surgery and will rule the Zimbabwean out “for the foreseeable.”

Wigan head coach Ryan Lowe confirmed the news after Mabaya met a specialist in London last week.

“Isaac went to London on Wednesday to speak to a specialist,” said the Latics coach as quoted by Wigan Today newspaper. “And it has been confirmed he has an Achilles issue.

“We’ll obviously liaise with Liverpool now but, when the time’s right, I’m sure he’ll have to have that operated on. In the meantime, we’ll wait to hear from Liverpool in terms of what happens next.

“I’ve spoken to Isaac, and he’s obviously disappointed, but I’m just gutted for him.”

Lowe added that the full prognosis is not yet known, but Mabaya will return to his parent club Liverpool.

“We don’t know the exact diagnosis – apart from it’s his Achilles – or how long it’s going to be. But he’s definitely not going to be with us for the foreseeable.

“Obviously we wish him all the best, and he’s in the best possible hands at Liverpool.”