DAVID CUFFLEY City winger Luke Chadwick today spoke of his bitter disappointment at facing three months on the sidelines - after it was confirmed he will have a shoulder operation next week.

DAVID CUFFLEY

City winger Luke Chadwick today spoke of his bitter disappointment at facing another three months on the sidelines - after it was confirmed he will have a shoulder operation next week.

The 27-year-old forward has missed seven first team games since he aggravated the chronic injury to his left shoulder during last month's 3-1 win at Blackpool.

It is another major setback blow for the former Stoke man, who missed four months of last season after a knee operation, suffering that particular injury on his debut for the Canaries at Ipswich.

“It will be good to get it sorted but it's another three months off so it's a bit of a nightmare with the trouble I've had with injuries since I've been here. It just carries on, really, so it's a bit disappointing,” said Chadwick.

“But I suppose if I get it sorted out it will stop it happening again. It's happening all the time at the minute. Hopefully the surgery will clear it up and I can come back stronger.”

Chadwick's shoulder problem dates back to his Manchester United days, but has become more severe in recent months.

He said: “It goes back probably about 10 years when I had it the first time but it's only really been a problem since early last season at Stoke when I had quite a lot of problems with it. Then I injured it against Ipswich when I hurt my knee.

“This season, just before the first game against Preston, I did it again. I've probably dislocated it 30-odd times this season. It goes back in quite easily but it's quite painful for a week or so, then it usually settles down, so I think I need to get it sorted out or it might cause some long-term damage.

“I can get it back in myself. I can get it back in quickly, but the real problem comes when the shoulder doesn't go straight back in and then you've got to have the operation straightaway.

“Fortunately I've been able to slot it back in myself and that's how I've been able to keep playing. I had a scan after I did it against Blackpool and I think the tear had got quite a bit bigger. It seems to be happening more and more now.

“I've had a nightmare since I signed here. I hope if I get this sorted, that will be the end of it.”

Manager Glenn Roeder confirmed: “We are going to let Luke have his operation next week.

“I think it's only fair now. I'm not saying he's put his career on the line, because I wouldn't let him do that, but there comes a time where you can't go any further and the shoulder is really restricting him now. He's so conscious of it in training that if he starts to fall over, he's so over-protective of it.

“I'm full of praise for Luke because lots of others players would have been hammering on my door two months ago demanding an operation, but we needed him at that time and he scored a very important goal against Coventry, a terrific finish. I've maintained all along that as soon as I felt he couldn't carry on, I wouldn't waste any time - and that point came this week.

“We've got him booked in for an operation to have the shoulder sewn in so it can't come out, but that will take him out for three months. It will be touch and go whether he plays again this season.

“But now for me, personally, it's all about Chadwick's health and future career. It would be wrong to say no and make the damage irreparable. It pops out too easily now. Let's get it done and maybe we'll get him back for the last month or so of the season.”

Chadwick, who joined City from Stoke, initially on loan but then permanently for a fee of about £200,000 last January, has made 16 senior appearances for the club, scoring twice, but has still yet to complete a full 90 minutes for the first team.

Meanwhile, Roeder revealed that skipper Adam Drury could yet confound predictions over the length of recovery from his knee injury and play before the end of the season.

“Adam believes he will play this season,” said Roeder. “He's nowhere close but where the surgeon thought after the operation that was his season over, he himself genuinely believes he's got a chance of making the last few games of the season, which would be great. He's got to believe that. That positive thinking will help him achieve his goal.”