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Owls' captain Watson out for season
OWLS club captain Steve Watson has had an operation on his hip and is out for the rest of the season.
The 34-year-old has been battling against a long-standing hip condition and has missed the last three games.
Manager Brian Laws explained: "It had got to the stage where he was facing a major problem with his hip. A specialist felt it was in need of an operation to repair it.
"Steve has been playing with pain but it had got to the stage where it was impossible for him to carry on.
"There was no alternative to surgery, and this hopefully will cure the problem. However, his season will be over."
Watson could have been facing the end of his playing career if he had not undergone surgery, said Laws.
"It is disappointing to lose someone of Steve's calibre," added the Owls boss.
"A fit Steve Watson is a very good player; he is also composed and he reads the game well.
"In the games he has played, he has been a major influence."
Watson's contract is up this summer but Laws said that the current priority was to help him to get back to fitness and the contract issue would not be publicly discussed at this stage.
"We have to make sure we give Steve all the attention required to get him back fit. We'll have discussions later on his contract," he said.
Laws also revealed that Watson's situation was one of the reasons why he had begun to look at the loan market again.
"We are still looking but we're not going to bring in anybody who won't improve the squad," added the Owls manager.
"We're also getting a slightly clearer picture now because our injuries are mostly starting to clear up."
Richard Wood was due to rejoin training today, and Akpo Sodje was set to make his comeback in the reserves against Mansfield at Hillsborough this afternoon (2pm).
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Friday 10 February 2012
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