Hibbert faces month's lay-off

Hernia lay-off for full-back leaves Moyes short on the right

By Jamie Casey   Last updated: 15th January 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Hibbert faces month's lay-off

Hibbert: Month on sidelines

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Everton full-back Tony Hibbert will be out for around four weeks as he prepares for a hernia operation.

The news is a blow to manager David Moyes, who on Thursday sold fellow right-back Lucas Neill to Galatasaray, leaving him short on that flank.

Hibbert will undergo surgery on Saturday while his team-mates host in-form Manchester City in the day's evening fixture.

"Tony Hibbert has to have a hernia operation which is a blow to us," Moyes told the club's official website.

"We are getting a little bit better in terms of injuries but you can take two steps forward and one step back at times.

"Tony will have an operation tomorrow," Moyes added. "That will probably rule him out for around four weeks.

"But hopefully everybody else who was available last week will be available again for the Manchester City game."

Hibbert, 28, has not featured for Everton since being withdrawn during the 3-1 FA Cup win over Carlisle at the start the month.

His replacement that day, Irish prospect Seamus Coleman, may now be forced to step into the first team with the experienced Neill having left the club.