Donegal will be without Patrick McBrearty for the start of the Allianz Football League and there is no set date on his return.
The Irish Daily Star is reporting that McBrearty has been in the US for the last few months, trying to set up a business.
That looks set to be the main factor in determining when or if the 26-year-old will play for Donegal in 2020.
Declan Bonner's men are due to start their Division One campaign against Mayo on Saturday, January 25th.
The Donegal manager is already without Oisin Gallen until the end of March due to a shoulder injury and Odhran MacNiallais has opted out of the panel for the year.
Meanwhile, it's unclear yet if Donegal will face any sanction for withdrawing from the McKenna Cup.
Donegal manager Declan Bonner cited player welfare concerns as the reason for not fulfilling the fixture.
With up to 13 of his panel also involved in Sigerson Cup action this weekend, Bonner said after the win over Derry on Wednesday night that the game may not go ahead.
Former Donegal player Eamon McGee believes that GAA club players are ready to take industrial action to raise awareness of the problems of scheduling.
