Diafra Sakho has finally undergone the operation on his back the club had hoped he would have last year.
The striker finally accepted surgery just before Christmas after suffering back pain, according to Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke.
Giving his latest update from the treatment room Vandenbroucke said: “After suffering back pain, Diafra underwent a successful operation before Christmas. He is currently resting and will undergo a period of rehabilitation with the aim of returning him to the pitch in the spring.”
It’s a long wait and frustrated sources inside the club told ClaretandHugh: “It could have happened 12 months ago. A lot of this could be avoided but now the op has happened he will be 100 per cent fine.”
“We are happy he took the decision to have the procedure and this should see him absolutely fit and free of the problem.”
Meanwhile Vandenbroucke explained that Gokhan Tore has returned to Besiktas to continue his rehab from knee surgery carried out in Europe and “will be out for a long period.”
He added that Manuel Lanzini, Simone Zaza, Reece Oxford and Sam Byram are all back in training with the first-team squad.
He said: “We have five injuries at present – Diafra Sakho, Arthur Masuaku, Alvaro Arbeloa, Gokhan Tore – and James Collins, who is set to return to training next week. All the other senior players are in full training.”