Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has admitted that defender Richard Dunne is still a "long way off" from returning to full fitness.
The Republic of Ireland international has not played since Euro 2012 and Lambert has revealed that the club's medical staff are still struggling to diagnose the full extent of Dunne's fitness problems.
Lambert said: "It is really frustrating. We are unsure at the moment what is this ongoing problem. It has come from the groin area or hip area as such. That is what we have to try and nail down and put to bed one way or another to try and get to the bottom of that.
"He is still a long way off and it is frustrating for Richard. He is not training at all. He does little bits himself with the physios but I think even that is starting to hurt a bit.
"I would say he is out to the New Year, the way it is going at the moment.
The 33-year-old has made 111 appearances for Villa since signing from Manchester City in 2009.
Darren Plant
