Sources close to Kell report that the midfielder is now not expected to return to the first team until after Christmas.
It was just before Christmas last year that Kell suffered the injury after a horror tackle by Michael Edwards during the Humber derby.
The news is a bitter blow to the player as he had hoped to return from injury before the beginning of the season.
It now leaves Brian Laws with just twenty professionals currently available for selection for the first game of the season against Wrexham at Glanford Park.