Garry O'Connor a doubt after dental problems

Feb 29 2008 By Colin Tattum

GARRY O'Connor has been waylaid by dental problems, Alex McLeish has revealed.

"O'Connor has been struggling over the past couple of weeks with teeth problems, abscesses in his gums," said the Blues boss.

"We thought we had eradicated it and got the offending tooth out but last weekend the infection has spread to another three teeth.

"He did train yesterday morning but he is a little bit weak with the poison in his system so he will be a big doubt for the weekend."

When O'Connor reported for international duty with Scotland three weeks ago, he saw a dentist North of the Border.

"I spoke to James McFadden when they were there and asked him how it was going," said McLeish. "He said then that Garry was suffering, he had the biggest cheeks - like he's swallowed a Mitre!

"It's likely we're going to see a gumsy Garry O'Connor when he's back."

"It's a shame for him because he's played a few games, scored a couple of goals and looked quite bright and worked really extremely hard for the team," McLeish added.