Fyfe to have back surgery

FREMANTLE skipper Nat Fyfe has revealed he is set to have back surgery next week, which could sideline him for up to six weeks.

The dual Brownlow Medallist’s summer has been hampered by injuries, with post-season shoulder reconstruction and a subsequent infection putting him in a race to play in round one.

It had been hoped Fyfe could return against St Kilda at Optus Stadium on Sunday, but coach Justin Longmuir ruled the star midfielder out on Thursday morning.

Fyfe revealed the severity of the back injury which is holding him back and could see him not play until round eight.

“I’ve been coming back over the last eight weeks, building from a shoulder reconstruction and in that big push to get my body back up to speed, put the body weight back on and get strong. I’ve just got a bit discy in my spine,” Fyfe told The Project.

“It hasn’t recovered over the last week as we would have liked.

“I had another MRI this morning, I’ve got a nerve test tomorrow morning and it’s looking likely at this stage early next week I’ll have a small procedure to try to alleviate the pressure on the nerve.”