Having dealt with a back injury for much of last season, the club had hoped that the summer break would ease the problem.
However, having been assessed by the medical staff at the Britannia Stadium over recent days, it has been decided that the 27-year-old should undergo surgery next week.
As a result, the centre-back has been ruled out of action until the start of October at the earliest.
Restore Data
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | |
| 1 | Sunderland | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 25 | 11 | 14 | 31 |
| 2 | Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd | 15 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 19 | 7 | 12 | 31 |
| 3 | Leeds UnitedLeeds | 15 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 24 | 9 | 15 | 29 |
| 4 | Burnley | 15 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 18 | 6 | 12 | 27 |
| 5 | West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom | 15 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 25 |
| 6 | Watford | 15 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 23 | 22 | 1 | 25 |
| 7 | Middlesbrough | 15 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 23 | 17 | 6 | 24 |
| 8 | Millwall | 15 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 18 | 13 | 5 | 23 |
| 9 | Blackburn RoversBlackburn | 15 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 19 | 17 | 2 | 22 |
| 10 | Bristol City | 15 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 20 | 19 | 1 | 22 |
| 11 | Swansea CitySwansea | 15 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 19 |
| 12 | Derby CountyDerby | 15 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 19 |
| 13 | Stoke CityStoke | 15 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 18 | 19 | -1 | 19 |
| 14 | Norwich CityNorwich | 15 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 23 | 22 | 1 | 18 |
| 15 | Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds | 15 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 17 | 25 | -8 | 18 |
| 16 | Oxford UnitedOxford Utd | 15 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 17 | 18 | -1 | 17 |
| 17 | Coventry CityCoventry | 15 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 20 | 21 | -1 | 16 |
| 18 | Plymouth ArgylePlymouth | 15 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 15 | 26 | -11 | 16 |
| 19 | Hull City | 15 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 16 | 20 | -4 | 15 |
| 20 | Preston North EndPreston | 15 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 23 | -8 | 15 |
| 21 | Luton TownLuton | 15 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 17 | 26 | -9 | 15 |
| 22 | Cardiff CityCardiff | 15 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 14 | 23 | -9 | 15 |
| 23 | Portsmouth | 15 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 16 | 28 | -12 | 12 |
| 24 | Queens Park RangersQPR | 15 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 25 | -13 | 10 |
| > Championship Full Table | |||||||||
