Bristol City head coach Sean O'Driscoll has revealed that James O'Connor looks likely to require surgery on the thigh injury that he picked up against Swindon Town last weekend.
The defender, who is loan from Derby County, suffered a 2cm tear in his thigh, and O'Driscoll has admitted that the 28-year-old will be out injured for "a long time".
The 56-year-old told the club's official website: "The tear in Jimmy's thigh muscle is likely to require an operation.
"It's every bit as bad as we feared at the time and he is going to be out for a long time."
O'Connor was making just his fourth appearance for the League One side.