For United, this week book the gangling striker into a hospital in the United States so that the top American specialist in this field can perform the operation.
And it means that, like Michael Owen, Ameobi will not kick ball for United for the rest of the season. With Owen out and Oba Martins struggling with hamstring problems and Kieron Dyer and Antoine Sibierski also not available to him, Roeder was hoping to give Ameobi one final blast before losing him for the rest of the season.
But the United boss admitted: "Shola's hip has all but seized up and he will be going to America for his operation, but this is easier said than done because the specialist is so good that all the top sports stars in the States who have this sort of problem are queuing up to see him."
For United, this week book the gangling striker into a hospital in the United States so that the top American specialist in this field can perform the operation.
And it means that, like Michae ...