TOWN captain Rob Edwards is to have an operation tomorrow.
The 33-year-old left-back has been troubled by hamstring injuries most of this season.
He missed two matches back in August and has now been ruled out of the last four in League and Cup.
Manager Peter Jackson explained:
"The problems seem to have stemmed from a little bit of fluid on Rob's hip, so he is having surgery tomorrow.
"It's not something you want to have to contemplate, but Rob will be in and out of hospital in a day and then he'll be in recovery.
"Rob is obviously disappointed and we, as a club, are disappointed to be without him, but we estimate he could be back in about three weeks so we thought it best to get things sorted once and for all."
Edwards suffered for the first time in the match at Boston on August 16 and missed the following two games against York and Doncaster.
He returned for the next five matches, but was forced off again in the defeat at Swansea and hasn't played since.
Ian Hughes (hamstring) and John Thorrington (ankle) are the other long-term injury concerns at the moment.
Meanwhile, Jackson has named a 12-strong squad for tomorrow's Reserves trip to play Sheffield United at Chesterfield (2pm).
Chris Holland is included and the squad is: Senior, Thompson, Brown, Booty, Scott, Lloyd, Ahmed, Mattis, Holland, Holdsworth, Newby and Kenworthy. Four players from the Academy will be added tomorrow.
