Neal Ardley goes under the knife next week for hip surgery, but he reckons his AFC Wimbledon side needs a far bigger operation.

The 42-year-old will struggle to make the coach to Tranmere Rovers next weekend after the surgery at Guys in London.

However, after a series of injuries, retirements and suspensions, Ardley admitted that the spine of his team had been ripped out and needed serious attention.

The back-to-back defeats on the road – 3-2 at Exeter City on Saturday, and 2-1 at Mansfield Town on Tuesday – have left Dons in League Two limbo in 13th.

There is little chance of Dons making the play-offs, but also no threat from relegation.

The lack of pressure has led fans to call on Ardley to give the younger Dons time in the team, but the boss hit back with cold, hard facts.

He said: “All the young lads are injured.

“I read an article by someone saying that I should be giving George Oakley a chance – he’s been injured with a hamstring injury for six weeks.

Wandsworth Times:

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“I wish people would do their homework before they ask me questions.

“If we had a good U21 option in the first team or the academy, we would be using them, and that is the long and short of it.”

He added: “At this stage of the season you’ve got to be strong. But we’ve lost Dannie Bulman for three games, we lost James Shea to injury, we’ve lost Dave Winfield back to York City, and we’ve not been able to replace David Connolly up front – that’s the whole spine of the team.

“What we have to look at now is ask ourselves: Can we manage through the rest of the season or do we need to bring someone in?”

Dons host Portsmouth this weekend, before the trip to Merseyside – with or without Ardley.

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He said: “I need some bone shaved off and I have a tear in my labral around the hip joint, which means my left side, groin, thigh and knee hurt, and I cannot do much exercise.

“It comes from the wear and tear of playing.” Ardley, pictured left, added: “I’ve managed it for a couple of years, and I’ve been waiting for an operation on the NHS.

“It’s a big op, and it’s something I don’t want the club paying for, we have better ways of spending our money than on a decrepit old man like me.

“But people may see me on crutches for the few weeks after and wonder what has gone on.”