Hull City hope a course of injections will help Mohamed Diame recover from a knee problem in time for the hectic festive period.
Diame returned from the recent international break complaining of a soreness in his knee, before a tendonitis problem was diagnosed by the club's medical staff.
Although manager Steve Bruce opted to try to manage the attacking midfielder through the injury, he was forced to come off in the 1-1 draw at Everton in midweek.
Bruce immediately spoke about the Senegal international being ruled out for six weeks, putting his hopes of playing in the African Cup Of Nations in doubt.
But the Tigers have now sent him to a specialist and hope a period of rest and injections will help to speed up his recovery far quicker.
"He has got a problem to the tendon in his knee and it's been bothering him for the last two to three weeks," explained Bruce, who will be without him for tomorrow's arrival of West Brom.
"He had another scan yesterday (Thursday) and the treatment will be done today.
"But we have got be patient with it because it's one of those where we have to let it settle and not let it flare.
"We hope that he's going to be involved over Christmas but at the moment it's going to be at least two to three weeks to let it settle down and see if we can get him fit again."
