Laura Robson will miss the Australian Open and is set to return to action with a series of low-key tournaments in February.

The 20-year-old suffered a left wrist injury more than a year ago and has not played a match since the first round in Melbourne last January, when she was clearly far from fully fit in a heavy loss to Kirsten Flipkens.

Robson subsequently opted to have surgery and had hoped to be back in time for the year’s first grand slam, which begins on January 19.

That looked unlikely when the entry list was released last month without the former British number one’s name on it.

She could have arranged a wild card into either the main draw or qualifying but will instead ease herself back onto the tour.

Robson’s return is due to come on the second-tier ITF circuit next month while her first WTA Tour event could be in Bogota in early April.

The Australian-born Londoner faces a long road to get back to anywhere near the career-high ranking of 27 she reached in July, but her main priority for the season will simply be staying healthy.