Dominic Matteo week faces the prospect of surgery on his troublesome knee for the second time in seven months. The Leeds skipper went under the knife in October and spent three months out of action, and just four weeks later he chose to retire from international football with Scotland.
The 28-year-old defender has since played through the pain barrier in the last few weeks in a determined bid to keep Leeds in the Premier League, earning the respect of manager Peter Reid.
Matteo is to see a consultant tomorrow, with a minor operation on the knee to follow soon after which should see him back in time for pre-season training on July 9.
"I am hoping to finally get the problem with my knee sorted out," confirmed Matteo, who also spent two months on the sidelines this year with a hamstring problem. "I have had two long spells out of the side through injury this season, which has been very frustrating. I am booked in to have a lateral release on my knee which will hopefully sort the problems out and then take about six weeks to recover from."
Matteo is hoping the injury is not more serious than anticipated, so avoiding the prospect of a trip to renowned knee surgeon Richard Steadman in Colorado, who treated Leeds striker Michael Bridges after he sustained ligament damage.
Filed by Johnny Proby
