Blues hit by O'Connor blow
Garry O'Connor (left, pictured with Roger Johnson) is out for four months after suffering complications with his groin injury
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Birmingham City striker Garry O'Connor could be out for up to four months after complications during his recovery from a groin injury.
O'Connor underwent an operation to correct the problem last season and was hoping to return before Christmas this year to play in Blues' first season back in the Premier League.
However, after the initial surgery caused associated problems with his mobility, the Scottish forward has been told he must go back under the knife and will not return to action any time before next February.
"We think he's got to have an operation at some stage on his hip before he plays again," said Blues boss Alex McLeish, who is already short of firepower up front.
"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."
McLeish said that O'Connor continuing to play through the pain barrier last year before having the operation on his groin had led to a related problem with his hip joint, which is what now needs to be operated on.
"Garry's problem is related to what he had last year," the manager continued.
"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 [O'Connor] has got to go for an operation and we could be talking three or four months."
Without O'Connor, Birmingham are quite limited up front.
Cameron Jerome and Kevin Phillips are the only recognised specialist strikers, as Marcus Bent is currently out on loan at Middlesbrough. However, attacking midfielder James McFadden has been used as a makeshift forward of late.