Barry To Play Through Pain

Gareth Barry is set to delay a minor hernia operation should scans prove one is necessary so he can continue to play a part in our derby clash against Albion.

Should an operation be necessary Barry would only be out for one or two weeks in any case, but the scans he underwent the other day are still not back.

O'Neill is hopeful that Barry will play a part against Albion and the general feeling is should an operation be required then it will likely be postponed until March.

"Gareth has a groin injury, the fact is we are hopeful things will settle down alright and the long and the short of it is that we are hoping he will be fit for West Brom.

"He felt it way back at the beginning of the season and then again during the Hull game.

"Depending on the results from scans we get in the next couple of days there is a possibility he might need a bit of surgery but we won`t know that until these results.

"He may miss a game or two. It will be a keyhole thing which will mean a couple of weeks.

"At this moment he wants to continue and unless it becomes severe that is fine, so we will monitor it."

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