Dundee United midfielder Sam Stanton is facing surgery to fix a hernia problem that has seen him play through the pain barrier.
Stanton was missing from the Tangerines’ team that beat Partick Thistle 3-1 at Tannadice on Saturday and is facing a prolonged period on the sidelines.
Manager Csaba Laszlo confirmed: “He has a hernia problem and he has told me that even if he coughs he has pain.
“I told him that he doesn’t have to play with pain and that he has to be out of the team for maybe four weeks in order to sort it out.
“For him to be playing and training while in pain is not the best solution to the situation.
“We have to fix this problem and I think, yes, he might need an operation.
“I am not a doctor or a physio but I want it to be sorted out as quickly as possible.”
Striker Nick Clark was also an absentee from the Jags clash but Laszlo hopes he will make a quicker recovery from his ankle injury.
The United boss, who has welcomed back both Fraser Fyvie and Billy King to full training, added: “He (Clark) had a problem with his Achilles and the artificial pitch at Queen of the South didn’t help him.
“He trained this week but he told me he had pain and it was better to give him two or three days just to let it settle down.
“I hope that he will be OK.”
