Ziege injury blow

The German international received his second successive red card on Boxing Day against Charlton, but it is a knock he got in that game that could lead to a lengthy absence.

Ziege originally thought he had just got a dead-leg, but later checks showed internal bleeding - and two operations were needed to correct the damage.

"I felt a strong pain in my upper thigh when I returned home," said Ziege.

"It felt so bad I had to call my doctor and he advised me to have my leg checked.

"It emerged that I had lost a lot of blood inside my upper thigh after receiving a kick as strong as a mule's.

"My leg had to be cut open to drain off the blood but then there were complications.

I've had to go under the knife once more so that the wound could be closed up.

"I will probably be out of action for a long time, for something like 12 weeks."