Source: Team_Talk
Sandaza suffers surgery setback
The ex-Valencia B player was due to go under the knife in Bradford on Thursday but fell ill overnight and was unable to travel.[LNB]He has now been booked in for a new appointment on Monday and faces six weeks of rehabilitation.[LNB]The 24-year-old has not played at all this season after undergoing a double-hernia procedure in his homeland over the summer but the doctors are convinced this latest bout of surgery will cure the problem once and for all.[LNB]Manager Craig Levein revealed: "Fran is having his operation on Monday now.[LNB]"It was supposed to be this week but he's contracted a bit of food poisoning so it's been put back.[LNB]"He'll be out for six weeks after it but the good thing now is that we know exactly what the problem is.[LNB]"He's been really down about being injured but he'll get the operation next week and then will be able to look forward.[LNB]"Obviously, having him out for longer than we thought is a blow but it's the lesser of two evils because we were worried it might be three months."[LNB]United travel to Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premier League tomorrow looking to put to bed an unhappy record at Rugby Park.[LNB]The Tangerines have won only once in their last eight visits to Ayrshire but Levein has seen enough from his players in recent weeks to suggest they are edging back to peak form.[LNB]He said: "We've not got a great record against Kilmarnock recently so that's something we want to rectify.[LNB]"A lot of it has been down to the way we've played. But Killie are a good side, so we are fully aware that if we don't play at our best then we'll struggle.[LNB]"I saw encouraging signs against Rangers last week. We played with the tempo and aggression that I want the team to show.[LNB]"We'll put out an attacking side this weekend so hopefully we'll continue to create chances and get a positive result."[LNB]United will have striker Damian Casalinuovo available, even though he only returned from a hamstring injury today.[LNB]The Argentinian is vying for a start along with Danny Cadamarteri and David Goodwillie and Levein has challenged the trio to make permanent claims for a jersey.[LNB]With Jon Daly nearing his comeback and Sandaza set to embark on his recuperation, competition for places will hot up in the near future.[LNB]Levein said: "Damian returned to training on Friday after missing the rest of the week.[LNB]"He trained away fine and said he felt okay, so as long as he doesn't get a bad reaction overnight, he'll be included for the game.[LNB]"It will be good to have him because he's been doing okay for us.[LNB]"I've been happy with the strikers. Obviously, we've missed Jon Daly and Francisco Sandaza but there's still a chance for the likes of Damian, David Goodwillie and Danny Cadamarteri to stake a claim for the jerseys.[LNB]"If the boys who are playing now are doing well and we're winning games then, even when the injured ones come back, they'll make it difficult for me to change the team."[LNB][LNB]
