Ironically he sustained the injury when he stumbled in the box in the second half, for which he was booed by the home crowd for the remainder of the game because they thought he was trying to cheat a penalty.
SWP has played every minute of every game this term and hasn’t missed back-to-back games since November 2003 but now faces eight weeks on the sidelines, which also rules him out of England’s two World Cup qualifiers later this month.
"Of course it is a blow to lose Shaun,” Kevin Keegan told the official City website. “The medical opinion is that it is a six to eight-week rehab process.
"But Wrighty is very professional and a quick healer and I can assure you that he is in great hands with our medical team.
"It could be that the only positive to result from Shaun's injury is that it will give an opportunity to some of the younger lads to get Premiership experience,” he added.
"You have to remember that Shaun himself got into the side when he was just 17 (he was actually just turned 18). Now the chance is there for someone else."
Willo Flood will probably be first in line to come into the City line-up, although Lee Croft will also be hoping for a chance in the right-midfield berth after recently lamenting the fact that the irreplaceable SWP stood in his way.
“Shaun could play on with the injury,” added club doctor Mark Whitaker. "But in consultation with the manager and Shaun we felt that the injury should be treated now rather than later.
"We all feel that it is in the player's best interests to have surgery now and I am confident that he will make a full recovery."