Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Kevin O'Connor has been forced to seek specialist advice on the cause of his persistent hamstring problem.

The 21-year-old academy graduate made three starts early in the season but has not played since suffering discomfort in a reserve friendly against Walsall in September.

"It's been over two months, and it is still hard to say what the problem exactly is," he said. "I’m going for another scan and we are hoping that it will shed light on what is causing the pain."

O’Connor is desperate to solve his problems after playing against Plymouth Argyle, Ipswich Town and Preston North End. He said: "I started the season quite brightly but then I started to pick up little niggles and since then it has been frustrating.

"Once or twice it has seemed that the treatment has worked but then I've gone back out to train and it's been painful again.

"I haven't torn a muscle or anything like that, it just suddenly came in during the friendly game with Walsall, and ever since then I haven't been able to shift it."

Meanwhile, police concern over a protest by Cardiff City fans has led Wolves to confirm an earlier kick-off of 1pm for the Championship match on January 20. City supporters are upset that they have been banned from attending the match.

Fans from other clubs will join their Cardiff counterparts to protest about Wanderers' decision although the hosts claim the move has been taken after crowd trouble in Cardiff’s last two matches at Molineux.

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