The striker, who returned to the club in the summer, started the opening three Unibond One North games of the season and was substitute in the next two.

But a knee problem forced him out of the side and he was eventually advised to have surgery to correct the problem.

"I had the operation three weeks ago and it will be another couple of weeks before I can do any running," he said.

"It is just a matter of strengthening the area up but once I can do some running I can do some proper training.

"Hopefully I will be back training before Christmas and be ready to play in the New Year."

Ross was one of manager Jim Vince's first signings when he took over the re-formed club in the summer and great things were expected from him.

The player also expected more of himself and admitted that he had played through the injury, something that made it worse.

"Playing through the injury made it worse," he said. "But I wanted to play through it in the first three or four games of the season.

"That did more damage to the knee cap which had to be sorted out and that held me back further.

"It has been a bit of a nightmare really.

"It is especially frustrating because I have not scored a goal yet this season.

"But all you can do is go to games, cheer the lads along and hopefully do your bit when you are fit again."

With central defender Steve Payne likely to return after Christmas and Ross Clegg now hoping to be back in February, Vince will have three 'new' players for the second half of the campaign.

"There will be a few of us coming back," said Ross. "And you can already see the strength of the squad we have.

"It is looking good for the second half of the season."

FC Halifax Town's Unibond game at Skelmersdale United, postponed from December 13 due to the Merseysiders' FA Trophy success, will now be played on April 4.