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Blues rocked by major injury setback
Birmingham City, 09:40, November 13, 2009 ,
Birmingham have been rocked by the news that Garry O'Connor could be out for up to four months with his groin injury.
The Scottish striker first suffered the problem last season and he had an operation in a bid to sort it out once and for all.
However, he continues to be hampered with it and now boss Alex McLeish has admitted he may not play again until March.
"We think he's got to have an operation at some stage on his hip before he plays again," said the Blues boss.
"That is the kind of road we're going down, so it's another man down which isn't great in terms of our striking options. Garry's problem is related to what he had last year.
"He had an operation on part of the groin ligament in there because of wear of tear.
"I've not got the full technical details but the wear and tear has caused a little bit of bone growth or something has calcified, so he'll have to get it shaved because it's affecting his mobility in that area.
"In all likelihood the bigun has got to go for an operation and we could be talking three or four months."
McLeish admitted O'Connor's absence is a blow but he hopes the likes of Cameron Jerome and James McFadden step up to the plate while he hinted on-loan striker Marcus Bent could be recalled.
"Of course we've got McFadden who can play through the middle, but we've got Benty out on loan at the moment, so I need to wrap these lads in cotton wool," he added on the club's website.
"I'm not too unhappy with the way the strikers are playing but we just don't want anything to happen to them."