Kyle set for long layoff?

Mick McCarthy has hinted that striker Kevin Kyle may be set to extend his current layoff.

Kyle has already had one operation on a troublesome hip cartilege complaint, but was forced to postpone his Christmas comeback and see the surgeon who treated him again on 23rd December - and it seems that a second operation may be needed.

McCarthy said yesterday, "He won't be back for quite a while.

"Kevin will have an injection, but he may require another operation. If it doesn't work (he) would struggle to be part of our plans this season.

"If I had a wish for the New Year, it would be to have Kevin available again because he gives us something different and it would be nice to have variety in our play."