INJURY-PLAGUED York City forward Oli Johnson is facing at least another month on the sidelines after undergoing groin surgery.

Johnson, 25, has been restricted to only six substitute League appearances since his arrival at Bootham Crescent, having endured a frustrating succession of niggling problems.

He has only started one match – the 4-0 Johnstone’s Paint Trophy defeat by Coventry – since his summer switch from Oxford and manager Gary Mills is now facing several more weeks without his services.

On the latest setback for Johnson, who played for Norwich in the Championship as recently as 2010, Mills said: “He will have a little operation on his groin that will keep him out for another four to five weeks.

“It’s been tough with him because, when you sign players, the last thing you want is for them to have injury problems. He’s never really been able to get going for one reason or another, which is very disappointing but these things happen. I’m hoping that, after this, things will settle down and we will get the best out of him and he will be able to help us during the rest of the season.”

Lanre Oyebanjo was set to return to training today, with the hamstring problem that caused him to miss the trip to Plymouth having eased. Former Darlington midfielder John McReady, meanwhile, should be back in three weeks’ time following his long lay-off with a dislocated shoulder.