James Olayinka is set to undergo surgery at the end of the season, Southend United manager Mark Molesley has disclosed.

Olayinka is on the books of Arsenal but is spending the entirety of the season on loan at the Shrimpers.

Southend United are concerned about their precarious league position, sitting 23rd in the table, and have convinced the Arsenal loanee to delay his surgery so he can be available for selection in their remaining six games.

The Hale End Academy product has missed the last two league games due to a groin issue and an ankle injury had kept him on the sidelines for around two months, from January to March.

"James is probably going to need some kind of intervention with the injury but we’re hoping to do that at the end of the season," Molesley was quoted as saying by Echo.

“He had a chance of coming to the game on Tuesday but he wasn’t fit enough unfortunately. "

Arsenal, Olayinka's parent club, would be delighted to see the Anglo-Nigerian midfielder take part in the remaining matches of the season, provided that he is feeling less pain.

"It’s something you can play on with but it can be quite sore when it’s inflamed.

"At the moment Arsenal are happy for him to play when he’s a bit more pain free and we all want to try and get him through it.

"It’s going to be on his pain threshold and he’s a got chance of being involved on Saturday," added Molesley,.

Igho Kingsley