NOTTS County boss Keith Curle has refused to confirm if Lee Hughes is out until January.
The striker, 36, is said to have shocked the Magpies with a sick note that says he can't play until the new year.
He was not in their squad as they dramatically lost 2-1 to promotion-rivals Brentford at Meadow Lane, even though he was available again after serving a three-game ban, but Curle would not be drawn on the situation.
"I will be speaking to Lee and we will see where we go from there. As soon as we can get him back available and back into the club the better," was all he would say when quizzed on the matter by the Post.
It comes almost a month after Hughes was set to leave Notts for Port Vale on loan, only for the move to fall through because the paperwork was completed three minutes after the loan deadline.
The Magpies were also missing their seven-goal leading scorer Yoann Arquin and star midfielder Alan Judge as their eight-game unbeaten run was ended by the Bees – and Curle felt it left his side with no cutting edge.
The Londoners were gifted the lead midway through the first half when Julian Kelly's cross into the six-yard box was sliced into his own net by Tony Craig.
But Brentford hit back through Adam Forshaw and Clayton Donaldson to inflict a fifth home league defeat on Notts.
"It's hard when instrumental players like Alan Judge, Yoann Arquin and Lee Hughes, who are the goals in your team, are not available. That's what we didn't have – a goal threat," added Curle.
Notts face League Two Rotherham United in an FA Cup second round replay at Meadow Lane tomorrow night and are sweating on the fitness of defender Dean Leacock, who was forced off at half-time on Saturday (hamstring).
