Nathan Dale will go under the surgeon's knife again on Monday.

The Norwich fighter, who missed 18 months of his career after an operation on his hand, is to undergo surgery to solve a hernia problem, although he expects to be back in action in July.

Dale, 26, admitted the problem was around at the time of his last outing in November – when he suffered the first defeat of his career.

'No excuses about that fight,' he said. 'It had nothing to do with it but, yes, it was there and I chose to go ahead, I kept it away from the team as well, but that was a learning experience to do that – I won't do it again.

'This is a minor setback – watching the lads fight at The show at The Halls was great but that should be me in there as well. It was not to be, but everything happens for a reason, but I will come back stronger. The surgeon says six to eight weeks, but maybe four to six for me being fit and healthy – I will be back in July, that's my goal.'