Crystal Palace full back Rhoys Wiggins is set to miss the opening three weeks of pre-season after having surgery on the same knee that ruled him out for 18 months as a teenager.

First Team Assistant Physio Sangi Patel has been overseeing his rehabilitation and revealed just why the Welsh U21 International was required to go under the knife again on a knee that sustained a cruciate ligament injury in the summer of 2006.

"Back in February Rhoys sustained an injury to his knee which he continued playing on, but after having exploratory surgery on his knee the surgeon found significant bone debris and bone contusion (bruising).

"This had to be repaired by the surgeon and he will be out for the next three weeks whilst that heals and he has already started some of his rehab work and is set to see the consultant this week".

Rhoys spent the end of the season playing for Bournemouth and Sangi believes that he would not have done any further injury during that time.

"Even though he continued playing, he did not do an real further damage to it as it is an operation he would have had to have anyway.