CITY have been dealt a huge blow with news that defender Ryan McGowan has undergone knee surgery.

There was no mention of his injury at the pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's trip to Plymouth but the Australian revealed the news on Twitter yesterday evening.

Alongside a picture of him recovering in hospital, he tweeted: "Op done and dusted....now time for recovery and rehab 24/7 until I'm back bashing around the pitch again #NewKnee."

City's official Twitter account have since confirmed the news, stating: "The club can confirm that Ryan McGowan underwent surgery today (Thursday) following an injury to his knee last week. The operation was successful and we will know more about when he is likely to return to play over the coming days."

McGowan had made a big impression since joining City from United Arab Emirates side Al-Sharjah at the end of the January transfer window.