CONNOR Gater could make a surprise return to action for Worcester City as manager Carl Heeley weighs up whether to “put off” his surgery.

The 24-year-old midfielder was expected to go under the knife to fix his long-standing toe problem after his loan deal at Stourbridge came to an end this week.

But with injuries and suspensions hitting City hard Heeley revealed he was considering delaying the operation so Gater would be available for selection.

“Connor’s loan has ended,” said Heeley whose side visit Gloucester City in Vanarama National League North tomorrow (3pm).

“Obviously his toe isn’t right so we are going to have to make a decision on it.”

Gater has not played for City this term but has turned out eight times for Evo-Stik Northern Premier League outfit Stourbridge.

Three of those appearances came in the FA Cup as the Glassboys memorably reached the third round before losing to Wycombe earlier this month.

“He has managed to put (the surgery) off for three months while at Stourbridge so that is a discussion I need to have with him and we will make a call,” Heeley continued.

“We are at the end of January and the season finishes at the end of April so we will see if we can do a similar thing through until the end of the season and he be available to us in whatever capacity if the injury allows.”

The ex-England schoolboy international made 37 showings last season and could make his first outing of the campaign for Worcester at Gloucester.

Heeley added: “Connor is a very good player and technically he is very good.

“It is just unfortunate he has been blighted by this injury which just doesn’t seem to go away.

“It is obviously frustrating for Connor and frustrating for us as a club. He has not completed a full game in three months.

“He has either started games and had to be withdrawn or he has been used as a substitute so clearly there is a restriction there.

“But the parts he has played he has done well.”