DIAMOND'S FACING NEW OP MISERY; SPL LATEST.

Byline: IAN ORR

ZANDER DIAMOND will today have surgery on the mystery ankle injury that has plagued his Aberdeen career for the past two years.

Dons boss Mark McGhee, who has had the defender available for only half a game against Celtic this season, admitted it could be Christmas before Diamond is able to resume training.

The 24-year-old has only played twice in the last seven months and went under the knife in the summer after two years of problems with his ankle.

Diamond was confident the removal of a bone spur would clear up the injury but he has been unable to train in recent weeks and a course of injections didn't help his recovery.

The centre-half said: "I'm desperate for a solution. I need to find out exactly what the problem is and the specialist feels further surgery will solve it.

"I've not been able to train for seven or eight weeks because of the pain, which is always there.

"It's doing my head in because you always want to make a good impression on a new boss.

"I wanted to get used to working under the manager and Scott Leitch but I've missed out on a lot of their new ideas because I've hardly been there since day one.

"I haven't been part of it all and I haven't been able to learn from them.

I've had to stay mentally strong to get through it and that's been a challenge.

"Sometimes you question yourself and ask if it's ever going to get better because I've had scans, X-rays and injections.

"But the specialist I'm working with now seems confident he can find the solution. Hopefully the surgery will finally sort out the problem and I can get back playing as soon as possible."

McGhee considered signing another defender because of the injuries that have ruled out Diamond, Jerel Ifil and Davide Grassi.

The Pittodrie gaffer said: "It could be nearer Christmas before Zander is fully match fit but at least there is some light at the end of the tunnel at long last.

"It's pleasing we can now put some sort of timescale on it."

CAPTION(S):

FESTIVE CHEER: Zander Diamond should be back in action for Aberdeen by Christmas