Surgery set-back for Lee

Lee will almost certainly miss the start of the season as he recovers from surgery

With the squad due to report back for pre-season training on June 26th, Republic of Ireland international Lee looks unlikely to be match-fit for Town's season opener on August 5th after news that he will shortly undergo groin surgery to rectify a long-standing problem.

Matt Byard, a physio at the club, told the club site: "Alan has had a scan and the specialist has advised us that he should have surgery.

"He will have an operation in the abdominal region - a relatively minor one - and then it will be rest and recuperation from there.

"It's difficult to say when he will be back in action but, looking at it at the moment, I would say he will be out for up to eight weeks.

"It could be shorter than that, it could be longer, but it would be fair to say that it will be tight for him to be fully match fit for the start of the season."

Lee missed the close of Royle's campaign with the groin problem and was then withdrawn from Ireland's friendly against Chile prior to the start of the World Cup.

Injections failed to settle the injury and now the former Rotherham and Cardiff forward, who signed for Town in the January transfer window will undergo the surgeon's knife.