BARROW AFC centre-back Steve Williams is set to undergo surgery on a broken cheekbone on Friday.

Williams suffered the injury in the 2-2 draw at Torquay last week, becoming the latest Bluebirds defender to have their season cut short.

Danny Livesey's campaign was ended by a hamstring tear and Ritchie Sutton returned to parent club Tranmere Rovers following a similar problem.

Boss Paul Cox expressed his sympathy for Williams, who had only just returned to action following an Achilles problem.

“Steve goes in on Friday for an operation, I feel for the lad,” said Cox. “He's had a situation where he got injured and that allowed Danny Livesey back into the side.

“Danny and Grandy (Simon Grand) have been consistent in my spell here and that's not allowed Steve back in. He's been on the verge of coming back and then tweaked his Achilles tendon and then, when he does come back and you think he's got two games to show what he can do, he gets a fractured cheekbone.

“I feel for him. It's a series of incidents which have really been unfortunate for him.”