Striker facing spell out

Birmingham will be without striker Garry O'Connor for the next six weeks after the player underwent a groin operation.

The 25-year-old striker has been struggling with the injury he picked up in the warm up before the QPR game back in October and has been told surgery is now the best option.

It is a blow to the player but he is determined to get back sooner rather than later and help fire the club to promotion.

"I hope to be back as soon as possible," he told the club's website. "The plan is the operation will solve the problem and I can get back to where I left off - scoring goals for Birmingham City. That's something I'd like to be doing for a few years to come.

"Hopefully I'll be back in no time at all and certainly involved in the business end of the season and the final push for promotion."

Manager Alex McLeish is also hoping the player makes a speedy recovery.

"We will now put Garry through his rehabilitation and look forward to having him fit and available for selection again," he added.