DEFENSIVE rock Colin Hendry was today in London facing surgery on a troublesome groin injury.

The Blackburn Rovers stalwart was forced to pull out of the Scotland squad to face Latvia in Riga on Saturday and Estonia next Wednesday.

And he faces a month out of action for Rovers as manager Ray Harford's injury headaches intensify.

With Chris Coleman expected to be out for the rest of the season after a serious Achilles injury, and Hendry unlikely to play again before the Liverpool visit on November 3, Harford will be forced to further disrupt his defensive line-up.

Hendry's injury is similar to the problem which forced Alan Shearer to miss the final few games of last season in a bid to be fit for Euro 96.

The Scot has played through the pain barrier for some weeks and almost pulled out of Scotland's previous World Cup qualifier in Austria. The planned operation has been timed to coincide with a relatively quiet Premiership programme.

Hendry said: "There is never an ideal time for something like this.

"I spoke to Craig Brown two or three times in the last few days and then made the decision to pull out. It has been hindering my jumping, heading, sprinting and running.

"The groin was getting weaker and weaker and I wasn't lasting the games to the same extent.

"When the team's not playing well you very rarely find a player at the top of his own ability and the injury was maybe one of the reasons."

Rovers striker Kevin Gallacher is also a fitness worry for Craig Brown after suffering hamstring problems against Coventry.

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