SAMMY Ameobi’s prolonged absence from the Middlesbrough team is set to continue but the club are expecting him to train with the first-team in ‘February or March’.

The winger has yet to feature for Boro since signing on a free transfer in the summer on a two year contact following his release from Nottingham Forest due to a long term knee injury. His former club make the trip to the Riverside today for a Boxing Day clash.

Ameobi’s absence from the team has baffled supporters this season and while there isn’t an expectation that he will be back anytime soon, manager Chris Wilder has put a timescale on when he expects to be training with the squad.

Wilder said: “It’s a long term injury so he’s not been part of the group since I’ve been here. We’re not expecting an early return for Sam.

“He’s working extremely hard with the physios. If you’re talking ‘are you going to see him in the next week or month or two months’ then I’m not so sure.

“How that materialises is how he progresses with his long term injury. With long term injury, there is always need to train for a lengthy period to get himself right as well. Under-23 games, bounce games and whatever to get him back up to speed to play in our first-team.

“It’s not a case of him being out for six months then all of a sudden, turning up first day of training and being available.

“Same with Marcus Browne and Darnell Fisher. These boys are long term injuries. Some will come back quicker than others but from Sammy’s point of view, I’m not expecting him back until February or March time.”

Marc Bola has been added to the list of long-term injuries with the full back expected to be out for the next six to eight weeks.

Bola has picked up a knee injury after an innocuous training ground clash.