Blackburn Rovers caretaker manager Eric Black has revealed that David Goodwillie will not be able to play for the club until January.
The Scottish striker recently returned from a loan spell at Crystal Palace but is not allowed to play for another team, including Rovers, for three months under terms of the agreement.
"He can't go back out," said Black. "He's back here, he'll train and we'll try and get one or two behind-closed-doors games for him, but he can't play officially.
"We'd love to have David Goodwillie fit and contributing but that's the way it's worked out and both clubs are comfortable with that."
Former Dundee United forward Goodwillie signed a four-year contract with Rovers in summer 2011.