The 24-year-old, whose future at Anfield is uncertain, missed the majority of the 2004-05 season with a similar injury.

Cisse had joined up with the France squad with doubt surrounding his Liverpool future.

The former Auxerre forward scored in last month’s FA Cup final victory over West Ham but recently criticised manager Rafael Benitez and had looked likely to leave Anfield after the World Cup.

The news could also be bad for Marseille, who reportedly had officials in Liverpool today to discuss a potential move for the striker.

The suspected break is to his right tibia, the opposite leg to which he broke at Ewood Park in October 2004.

In that instance he was initially ruled out for the rest of the season but returned sooner than expected and featured in Liverpool’s Champions League final win over AC Milan last year.

Former Arsenal and Manchester City striker Nicolas Anelka, now of Fenerbahce, and Barcelona’s Ludovic Giuly are potential replacements for Cisse in the France squad.

France coach Raymond Domenech told television station TF1: “It is bad but we cannot say very much right now.

“He has gone to the hospital for tests and we are extremely worried. We all saw what happened and it is hugely disappointing.”

When pressed on possible replacements in the squad, he added: “We can’t say right now. We will go and see Djibril first but there will be solutions.”