English side Middlesbrough could be without the flanker for the majority of January and the first two weeks of February if Adomah makes the cut in Avram Grant's squad.
Boro could be without Albert Adomah for a pivotal stretch of games in the new year after the winger was reportedly named in Ghana's squad for the African Cup of Nations.
The flanker didn't play any part in the latter stages of Ghana's qualifying campaign but has been handed an international lifeline by new boss Avram Grant.
Adomah has been selected in Grant's provision 31-man squad ahead of the tournament which gets underway on January 17.
The news will come as a major blow to Aitor Karanka who described Adomah as a "very important" member of his squad earlier this season. He said: "He is very important because, like I said last season, he is a leader.
"He is a leader on the pitch and off the pitch and as a player he is the kind of player that when he is on the pitch you have a lot of options.
"He can play in a lot of positions and for this reason - as a person, as a player, as a leader - he is a very important player for us."
If Adomah does make the cut for Ghana's squad he is likely to miss all the league games in January and possibly the first two weeks of February with the tournament running until February 8.
Boro will be boosted by the expected return of Muzzy Carayol in the New Year but the flanker won't be rushed back into the team following a lengthy injury lay-off.