Michael Bailey Norwich City physio Neal Reynolds today confirmed that Luke Chadwick will be sidelined for three months but is confident his shoulder problems are over after the midfielder underwent surgery.

Michael Bailey

Norwich City physio Neal Reynolds today confirmed that Luke Chadwick will be sidelined for three months but is confident his shoulder problems are over after the midfielder underwent surgery.

The 27-year-old had a stabilisation operation last week to re-stitch part of his labrum cartilage to help strengthen the joint.

The injury has troubled Chadwick for over 10 years, dating back to his time with Manchester United earlier in his career, where his shoulder dislocates when he falls. The player had been taking it upon himself to put the bone back into its socket.

However, the increasing frequency of the dislocations led the Colney staff and Chadwick to aim to cure the problem once and for all, and Reynolds believes that should now be the case.

“The operation went as planned and went very well,” said City physio Neal Reynolds. “We want to make sure this is the last time anything happens to the shoulder.

“Surgery is the last resort with a lot of injuries. People think it is the cure, and that's why we've done it. He's gone on and on without it being done and it got to the point when he was doing it every time he plays.

“Our aim is to get him back before the end of the season, but in view of the fact that he's had the problem for 10 years, we won't rush him. It will be around three months.”

Chadwick had been putting in some impressive displays in the early days of the Glenn Roeder regime, but has been out of action since last November with the shoulder complaint, his last appearance coming in the 3-1 win at Blackpool.

The midfielder made a brief comeback for City's reserves in the now infamous 5-1 demolition by Ipswich just before Christmas, but he only lasted a few minutes of the second half before falling on his shoulder and dislocating it again.

“He'll be in a sling for three weeks. He's just getting over the surgery and doing cardio vascular work at home, and coming in every so often. When he's out of the sling he'll get back to it and start to get it moving again.

“There are no guarantees with surgery. The recurrence rate is low with this particular surgery but we'll just have to wait and see over the coming weeks.”

Either way, Chadwick's continued absence will be a blow to City's hopes for the season and may force boss Glenn Roeder to look for reinforcements during the current transfer window.