I spoke to United physio Ken Steggles today and he filled in the details of the operation carried out on Andy Duncan yesterday.

Duncan is of course sidelined after breaking his leg against Burnley in October and is not expected to play again this season, but yesterday's operation was not connected with his fracture. Steggles explained, "Andy went into the Evelyn Hospital yesterday for an operation on a spur of bone in his heel. It's a problem that he's had for a while but it was manifesting itself even more as he went through his rehabiliation.

"The problem was an outgrowth of bone in his right heel which was aggravating a burser, which is a sac of fluid that protects the tendon.The surgeon, Mr Edwards, suggested doing it on Tuesday, he had a slot in his schedule on Wednesday morning and operated on Andy then, and he was out on Wednesday afternoon. It's something that would have needed doing at some stage so it made sense to deal with it now, while he's not in training."

When I asked if the operation involved filing down the spur of bone, Ken cheerfully responded, "Oh yes, it was a hammer and chisel job!"

Proof that there is no rest for injured players at the Abbey came when Ken added that Andy will resume his rehabilitation tomorrow.