Roy Hodgson is worried that injured striker Andy Johnson could face a long spell on the sidelines after undergoing an exploratory operation to cure the pain that has afflicted his recovery from a groin problem.

He had an operation on Saturday and I am waiting to hear what the results of that are. It is pretty much exploratory because he has tried so hard to get back. I fear he will be out for some time.

There have been days when we thought he has cracked it and got manageable pain but then the following day when he comes out to training, he does not have manageable pain. He is forced to go back inside again and that was the case on Friday and the day before.

That has prompted us, after the numerous scans and alternative medicine, to operate and go into the area where he is suffering the pain in the hope of finding out what it is and put it right.