City today suffered a fresh setback with the news that James O’Brien is set to miss the next TEN games.

The young midfielder will undergo a nose operation because he has been struggling to breath since it got broken.

O’Brien will not be allowed to train again for a month. And it could be the middle of March before he is ready to play again.

With the hectic run of rearranged games kicking off later next month, that means he will be unavailable for a significant chunk of action.

Stuart McCall said: “James has been to the specialist the last few weeks and he’s got to have the op. He took a couple of bangs on the nose and has got a crooked septum.

“He’s in a lot of pain with it. He’s struggling to sleep at night and his breathing is affected.

“Prior to Christmas we were hoping he could get through to the end of the season because he’s going to be out for up to six weeks. He’s had various injections and we’ve tried every angle but none of it has worked.”

O’Brien has featured 24 times in his first season with City, starting 16 games, but has not played since scoring against Cheltenham. He was on the bench at Lincoln.

His absence will turn the spotlight on fellow midfielder Steve O’Leary’s appearance for the reserves at home to Rotherham tonight.

O’Leary, whose extended short-term deal expires at the weekend, is desperate to put his injury nightmare behind him after five months out with a broken toe but he will need to prove his fitness to McCall if he is going to earn another chance.

Peter Thorne also makes a welcome return to action as well as Leon Osborne.

* James Hanson’s transfer tribunal will take place in Manchester tomorrow.