Canaries winger Lee Croft goes under the surgeon's knife today for an operation that will make or break his season.

Canaries winger Lee Croft goes under the surgeon's knife today for an operation that will make or break his season.

Croft, accompanied by City physio Neal Reynolds, will be in Sheffield for exploratory surgery on an ankle injury which has forced him out of City's last two games.

There are two outcomes:

t If the surgeon discovers ligament damage, Croft will be out for months

t If he is given the all-clear he could be back in action in a month.

“We are going to go inside and let the physio know what I've done and then, hopefully, get me back as soon as possible,” Croft told the City web site.

“If they were to rush me back now there could be repercussions in the long run. They want to check it out so it's all fine once and for all. Hopefully they can push me on after Thursday.”

Croft suffered the injury in the closing stages of City's 5-0 defeat at Stoke at the end of last month and while he was in some discomfort, he played on - a decision he now questions.

“When I did it I was in quite a lot of pain,” said the former Manchester City man.

“I managed to carry on and I don't know whether that did any good. But I didn't want to come off.

“That just topped off the day really with us not winning and me coming off with a bad injury. It wasn't a good day.”

Croft's absence has left manager Peter Grant with another headache on what over the years has been the troublesome right wing position.

Grant can play Paul McVeigh down that flank, but the only other option would be Ian Henderson - and he's sidelined with an injury of his own.

Grant's injury came on the back of his first three full appearances for the Canaries as he finally built up his fitness following his summer move from Manchester City - and the move into the stands hasn't been one he has enjoyed.

“I like watching football, but I'm not a good watcher of Norwich because I just want to be out there,” added Croft.

“It makes you realise how much you miss playing and how lucky you are to be out there on a Saturday afternoon playing. It's killing me at the moment, but I will do all I can do with the physios to get back as soon as possible.”