AC Milan boss Sinisa Mihajlovic has revealed that Jeremy Menez will not be available for selection until the early stages of 2016.
Menez, 28, has only made one appearance for Milan this season after being troubled with a back problem, which required surgery.
It had been thought that the Frenchman would be available in the run-up to the winter break, but Mihajlovic has said that complications from the operation have put back the attacker's return.
"Menez has an infection in the area he was operated on, he is taking antibiotics. He will be out until January or February," Mihajlovic told reporters.
Menez joined Milan from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2014 and scored 16 times in 33 league games for the Italian side last season.