Ruiz out until New Year

Fulham's Bryan Ruiz faces at least four more weeks on the sidelines after suffering a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury.



The 27-year-old has been missing since the 3-1 defeat to Sunderland three weeks ago and was expected to return against Newcastle.



However, Fulham manager Martin Jol has confirmed Ruiz will miss Monday's match and will be out until the New Year after suffering a setback.



"He came back on Monday then he had a setback and he will be out for at least four weeks," Jol said.



"It is the same injury. He was in the final stage of his rehabilitation and he aggravated his hamstring muscle again.



"He has had intensive screening and that highlighted some problems."



Jol has voiced his frustration in the past at the number of injuries Ruiz has picked up, especially when he has travelled back to his native Costa Rica for international duty.



The Dutchman, though, insists the hamstring complaint has nothing to do with that.



"He had this hamstring injury before, now we've found out it is a structural thing," Jol said.



"We had a second opinion and hopefully we found a solution now, but he needs treatment and he will be out for the next four weeks.



"Maybe before he went back to his country and then he came back with a different injury, but as it is now it is the same injury all the time. The same area.



"Hopefully we have found a solution. We sent him to Germany with our people and Doctor [Hans-Wilhelm] Muller-Wohlfahrt is a specialist I know from my time there.



"Hopefully he will be fine in four weeks now but of course it is a big disappointment.



"As you know, Bryan was a vital player for us and every time he played, like against Arsenal, Southampton and Wigan, he was quite important, but we've got other players. Good luck to him and he will be back after Christmas."