By Chris O'Brien
November 29 2004

Alan Lee is believed to be facing 6 weeks on the sidelines has he prepares to undergo surgery on a hernia. Peter Thorne, returning from injury, is expected to swap places with the Irishman in the City starting XI.

Cardiff City forward Alan Lee will be out of action for up to 6 weeks as he prepares to undergo surgery on a hernia. The Irish international has been the only fit first-team striker in recent weeks and has played under the aid of pain killers, but the return of Peter Thorne means Lee can now head for the treatment room.

 

Thorne has been out for the majority of the season with injury. Andy Campbell, whose form when in the team was woeful, has suffered with injury whilst youngster Stuart Fleetwood has also needed treatment. Teenager Cameron Jerome has been involved in first-team action to ease the injury crisis and has done well, with left winger Paul Parry played out of position in a striker role.

 

Perhaps an excuse, but the injury may help to explain Lee’s horrendous form of late. The former Rotherham United target man is on a five game baron spell, and has only 6 goals in 23 club appearances. 26-year-old Lee went 8 Bluebirds games without hitting the target earlier in the season, and has spent games largely anonymous. He has more yellow cards to his name than goals this term.

 

Thorne will now replace Lee in the side after recovering from injury. Since his record-breaking £1.7million move from Stoke City in 2001, Thorne has been dogged with injuries and ha failed to justify that hefty price tag with only 37 Football League goals in over 3 years. However, when fit he is capable of performing at this level and Lawrence will pray the Lancastrian can stay fit during Lee’s absence.

 

Whilst Thorne will be expected to partner Parry for the relegation battle at home to Gillingham on Saturday, Campbell is fit from a calf problem and is back in contention for a place in the squad. However, the England under-21 international has failed to score in his last 14 Cardiff games and bright prospect Jerome may be preferred ahead of the 2002 Play-off hero for the substitutes bench.