Webster is hit by new injury blow

May 25 2008 By Gordon Waddell

JINXED Andy Webster faces his third operation since joining Rangers - and it could be the final nail in the centre half's Ibrox coffin.

The luckless stopper has only played once since signing a loan deal from Wigan 18 months ago.

Two knee operations have stalled the 26-year-old's career.

Now boss Walter Smith has revealed the ex-Hearts star will go under the knife again - this time for a double hernia op.

Smith said: "He's going for one side, but the doc thinks he might need to do the other too.

"This is a new injury not the problem he has had before."

Webster's future at Ibrox is complicated by the status of his deal with Rangers.

He recently won a landmark ruling that allows a player to move on in the third year of a four-year deal but the case seems certain to be challenged in court.

It's unlikely Gers will want to be caught in the crossfire and they may let his loan deal lapse with Webster returning to Wigan.