Injured Senegal's captain Mohamed Diame is in a race against time to be fit for the 2015 Afcon.

The Hull City midfielder suffered a knee injury in their 1-1 draw with Everton on December 3.

He had earlier been diagnosed to return by Christmas but further tests have ruled him out into the New Year. He is to wear a brace and sit out for about another month.

The Hull City player, 27, who joined from West Ham in August, hit the ground running with four goals in his first five Premier League games, but knee problems were being managed with pain-killing injections.

"Diame has been troubled by the problem in recent weeks, missing the home game against Tottenham Hotspur last month before being withdrawn during the second half of the draw at Everton nearly a fortnight ago,” read a statement on the Hull City website.

"After seeing a specialist late last week, the midfielder has been advised to wear a brace for a month and won't be back in action until 2015,” it said.

This means Senegal coach Alain Giresse may not have his captain available for selection when he prepares his squad for the Afcon set for Equatorial Guinea from January 17 to February 8, 2015.

Diame missed out on the Teranga Lions’ final two games in the qualifiers against Egypt and Botswana in November.

Senegal will open their 2015 Afcon campaign against Ghana in Mongomo on January 19.