Wigan manager Roberto Martinez confirmed the injury after the defeat - and absolved Sterling from any blame.
'I haven't seen the challenge back, but I don't think any of the players were looking at each other,' he said.
'Both were looking at the ball - it's a real accident. It's a nasty collision.'
'It is a broken leg and we are going to miss him,' the Spaniard continued, 'he has a fracture and we are going to assess him now because maybe he will require surgery.
'We will see what the extent of the breakage is and what treatment he needs. We are really disappointed because he was at a good level.'
'I haven't seen the challenge back, but I don't think any of the players were looking at each other,' he said.
'Both were looking at the ball - it's a real accident. It's a nasty collision.'
'It is a broken leg and we are going to miss him,' the Spaniard continued, 'he has a fracture and we are going to assess him now because maybe he will require surgery.
'We will see what the extent of the breakage is and what treatment he needs. We are really disappointed because he was at a good level.'
