Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Stale Solbakken has revealed that his side will be without Jamie O'Hara until after the festive period.
The midfielder has been out of action since August with a hernia injury that was only expected to keep him out of action for eight weeks.
However, the former Tottenham Hotspur player has suffered numerous setbacks during his recovery process.
Recent reports had claimed that the 26-year-old was due to return next month, but Solbakken feels that he will not be able to select O'Hara again until 2013.
"Jamie was outside running yesterday. He can run straight forward, but he's not changing direction or kicking balls," Solbakken told reporters.
"He's probably many weeks away. It will probably be after Christmas when we see him playing."
O'Hara joined Wolves from Spurs on a permanent basis in 2011.