WORCESTER City midfielder Jai Stanley will go under the knife on Friday for his third knee operation in two years.

The club record signing is due to have clean-up surgery on his right knee and, if successful, the 27-year-old return to the first team in January.

Stanley's first operation came within a month of signing for City from Moor Green in November 2003 in a £10,000 move. He revisited specialist Droitwich Knee Clinic last October to repair medial and lateral damage to his cartilage.

"Jai will have an operation on Friday," said City manager Andy Preece. "If that goes well, he could be back within three weeks."

City's reserves take on Kettering Town tonight in a Central Conference fixture at St George's Lane (7.45).