O'Hara has been out of action since March with a niggling groin problem and he was forced to undergo a third hernia operation in August. The former Tottenham man has returned to light training, but Solbakken admits the 26-year-old is still a long way off from returning to the side.
"Jamie was outside running yesterday. He can run straight forward, but he's not changing direction or kicking balls," Solbakken told the Express & Star.
"He's probably many weeks away. It will probably be after Christmas when we see him (playing)." Solbakken is refusing to take any risks with O'Hara's fitness after admitting the injuries are serious.
"The most important thing is he saves his career and can play football," added Solbakken.
"It's not important if it's January 1 or March 1 when he plays, but that he can play football.
"If you've had three operations and been out for so long, it's starting to get serious.
"It's important he puts his health and future first. He and the medical staff must be totally in control of this. He's not an old man, so he can come back, be close to pain-free and play football again.
"He's working hard. You get ups and downs when you've had such big setbacks, especially the thought you could perhaps have done without the last operation."
Source: team_talk
