McAteer may need another operation

McAteer has been sidelined since the end of September after having a previous hernia operation and although he returned to training last week manager Howard Wilkinson fears he may be set for another spell on the sidelines after seeing a specialist.

"Jason McAteer faces the possibility of another operation which is going to keep him out for a further six to eight weeks," Wilkinson said.

"He has got an abdominal hernia as opposed to the one in the groin.

"It's a very, very uncommon injury for a footballer, more common in rugby players, and there has been a complication to it which on second opinion may require surgery.

"But we don't know exactly at the moment until we have looked at other things and we will see how it pans out."