The luckless 32-year-old has not kicked a ball for Wolves since signing for £200,000 in January.

It was hoped he would be in contention for a long-awaited comeback at the start of this season.

But after his tendon problem flared up again, Williamson was ruled out of training for a month.

And it is believed he's now had an operation to remove a troublesome floating bone in his leg. A current timescale puts Williamson's comeback on hold until January at the earliest.

With the former Newcastle man out of contract at the end of the season, there are serious doubts he will play for the club again.

The latest news is a huge blow to both player and club. Williamson starred during a five-game loan spell last November and was seen as the answer to Wolves' defensive woes at the time.

He joins cruciate knee ligament sufferers Jordan Graham and Michal Zyro as long-term absentees.

Graham is expected back in action by November or December, while Zyro is likely to be out until April.

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Elsewhere, young left-back Ben O'Hanlon has joined National League North side Nuneaton Town on loan.

The 20-year-old – who travelled with the Wolves first-team to Cork in pre-season and also played against Swansea at Molineux – has joined Boro on an initial one month loan deal.

England youth international O'Hanlon had a spell in the same division last season with Corby Town.

Wolves have several internationals in action this weekend, with Jon Dadi Bodvarsson (Iceland), Carl Ikeme (Nigeria) the senior players called up, as well as Dominic Iorfa and Kortney Hause (both England U21s).

David Edwards was forced to withdraw from Wales duty with a 'slight' injury.