GRANT HALL is facing up to four months on the sidelines after scans revealed a serious thigh issue.

The Middlesbrough defender returned to training after recovering from a hamstring issue at the start of the month, but broke down again before he was able to make a first-team return.

A series of scans have revealed damage to the centre-half’s thigh, and while there is still some disagreement about whether or not surgery will be required, Hall is not expected to be available until well into the spring.

Boro boss Neil Warnock said: “We’ve had some bad news in the last 24 hours regarding Grant Hall. He looks like he’s going to be out between 12 and 16 weeks.

“We’re not sure if he’s going to need an operation because we’ve had two different opinions, but it’s a big blow because he’ looked sharp on the training ground.

“It’s not his original injury – it’s a front thigh injury. It was quite innocuous when you look at it, we watched it back. He’s finished a physical session and just made a side-pass into the goals, but he’s pulled up holding the front of his thigh.

“The scan is worse than we first though, but we’ve got different opinions. One surgeon would operate and one wouldn’t – I’m sure they’ll make a decision between them this week.”

Either way, Hall faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines, with his absence representing a considerable setback given Boro’s lack of squad depth.

Warnock said: “It is a big blow. When I arrived, the club had already agreed to sign Grant. Jonathan (Woodgate) had already had him up. The board asked me my opinion, and I said he was a good lad.

“It’s just a blow because he’d come back and was so fit. He’d lost a bit of weight and looked really sharp. He was just desperate to get back in the team. To be a three or four month job,m it’s a major blow to him.”

Today is Warnock’s 72nd birthday, and the Boro boss will spend it preparing his side for tomorrow’s home game with Swansea City.

The Teessiders will be hoping to return to winning ways tomorrow after suffering a disappointing 3-2 defeat to Huddersfield at the weekend, but when asked whether three points would represent the ideal birthday present, Warnock said: “Three points? I’d rather have a nice bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape.

“A nice bottle of red wine, that’ll do for me. You never know what’s going to happen with a result, whether you’re going to get any points or not, so I’ll take the wine instead!”