Birmingham are set to lose striker Garry O’Connor for around four months after further complications arising from an old groin injury.

The Scotland forward was operated on last season in a bid to cure the problem but is now being bothered by his hip, so will have to go under the knife again sooner rather than later.

O’Connor had played through the pain barrier this season but the new injury had clearly affected his mobility, to the point that some Blues fans had even questioned his work-rate during a phone in.

Now boss Alex McLeish has told the 26-year-old to have the surgery that is needed, even though it’s means the player will miss a large chunk of the Premier League season.

The manager said: “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 and 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 he has got to go for an operation and we could be talking three or four months.”