Kennedy faces operation dilemma

MARK KENNEDY has been told he could need an operation on the groin injury he picked up last season.

Kennedy has returned to Wolves after visiting a specialist in Belgium. He now faces a choice to undergo an operation or to rest and see if the niggling injury clears up.

Manager Dave Jones said: “We’ve got to decide on what action to take for Mark. It will be either a minor 20-minute operation or letting him have more rest.

“Surgery looks like giving him a higher chance of success rather than rest because that doesn’t appear to have worked as yet.

Meanwhile, Richard Sadlier is hoping to force his way into the Republic of Ireland team this season by impressing for Millwall.

The Lions striker’s 17 goals in the First Division earned him a call-up for a friendly against Russia in February, but he was ruled out of the World Cup with a hip injury.

Sadlier is determined to prove he is the natural replacement for Niall Quinn. But his first priority is to win back his starting place at the New Den, where he faces competition from Steve Claridge and Neil Harris.

‘‘I won’t be considered for Ireland if I’m not picked at Millwall. I played 20 minutes of a friendly last year and I hope to do enough to earn a recall,’’ Sadlier said.