... in America, and looks likely to miss the remainder of the season.
The club have known for some time the player needs surgery on his hip, but with the retirement of Alan Shearer and the long term injury to Michael Owen, they have been putting off the date. A period of rest over the summer failed to alleviate the problem and the 25-year-old will head to the States for surgery.
Glenn Roeder: "We're close to booking the operation in America. When he has it, that's him for the season. We will know in the next couple of weeks if there is one more game in him.
"The majority of players six or eight weeks ago would have thrown the towel in and said, 'Enough is enough, I want this operation'. Shola has never, ever come to me and said, 'Boss, I want this operation, you are not being fair to me'.
"But just in the last few weeks, the hip is starting to become a major concern for him and for us. The one thing I will not do, no matter how painful it is for me, I would never jeopardise the career of one of my players. I know there are managers who are prepared to do that to try to look after themselves, but Glenn Roeder would never do that.
"My only concern if for Shola Ameobi and if we have to go without him for the rest of the season, so be it. If Shola has another six, seven, eight years playing top level football, I will feel satisfied I have done the right thing for him."