Keeper Brian Murphy will undergo an operation this evening having injured his ankle in training last Thursday. The Irishman is still expected to be out of action for three months.

Manager Roy Keane said: “He’s having an operation tonight, I’ve just been talking with the medical staff. We wanted it to settle down. We don’t think it will have an impact on his date of recovery.

“It’s Murph’s first operation and he’s done well for a keeper as they usually break something, don’t they?”.

Youngster Shane O’Connor suffered a shoulder injury on Christmas Eve which will sideline him for six weeks, while midfielder Luke Hyam has suffered a minor setback on his way back from his hamstring problem and will be out for another week.

Defender Gareth McAuley is still down for an early January return.

Photo: Action Images via Reuters