Combe is entering his fifth season as a Kilmarnock player

Kilmarnock will be without keeper Alan Combe for up to three months as the 35-year-old prepares for a hip operation.

Combe has featured in Killie's last two outings but has been experiencing pain after matches.

The keeper, who had a double hernia operation during the close season, had hoped a combination of Thai therapy and pain-killing injections would help.

"I'll be out for at a minimum of 10 weeks and it is a massive blow," confirmed the dejected Combe.

Kilmarnock started the season without their number one choice but he returned last midweek in the League Cup and played in Saturday's 2-1 home defeat to St Mirren.

"When I woke up last Wednesday morning after the Morton game I was in absolute agony," Combe added.

"I was sent to see a specialist in Bradford that evening and he said straight away I needed an operation.

"So I will get that done as soon as possible. The problem is all connected to my hip and my abductor and my thighs are very sore.

"It's a huge blow, especially as I had a double hernia operation this summer. If we'd known I needed this as well I could have had it done at the same time.

"But I'd been able to start training again a week before the Morton game. I felt good and everything seemed back to normal.

"When I kicked the ball I wasn't in pain but the morning after the game everything seemed to seize up and was very sore.

"The surgeon confirmed I'd need an operation and I should have that in the next 10 days.

Cameron Bell was on the Rugby Park bench at the weekend, while former Rangers reserve keeper Lee Robinson was signed in the summer.

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