Grant Hall looks set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after picking up a thigh injury.

The Middlesbrough man has endured a frustrating time since moving to the Riverside Stadium from Queens Park Rangers over the summer.

Hall has been limited to just four appearances so far this term with the defender not featuring for the club since the end of September due to an ongoing injury struggle.

The 29-year-old was on the cusp of a return but according to Warnock, Hall could be now potentially be out until early April with a new injury.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Warnock said: "Grant Hall could be out for 12 to 16 weeks.

“We don’t know if he’ll need an operation or not. We’ve had different opinions so we’ll have to make a decision on what’s best.

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“It’s a real blow. He’s worked so hard in training and looked so sharp. I’m absolutely gutted for him.

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

“The scan is worse than we first thought, 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.”

The Verdict

The is a bitter blow for Grant Hall.

The defender has endured a torrid time with injuries throughout his career and it seems that this is going to continue.

This is not how he would have wanted his first season on Teesside to go, and the hope now is that he can fully recover.