Albion are hoping a fourth ankle operation will end 15 months of frustration for Charlie Oatway.

The skipper has undergone further surgery to repair a nerve problem in the right ankle he fractured against Queens Park Rangers at Withdean on Boxing Day 2005.

Complications arising from the fracture have kept Oatway sidelined since the injury but physio Malcolm Stuart is optimistic the latest surgery will enable the 33-year-old midfielder to make a comeback.

Stuart said: "He was continuing to get pain and discomfort when exercising. It reached the stage where, after working for an hour, he would be limping around for the rest of the day.

"We tried some injections with regard to nerve damage and they were not successful so we went ahead with an operation.

"They found the nerve wasn't where it was meant to be and there were signs of inflammation. That has been rectified and we are hoping that has done the trick.

"Initially the surgeons were quite excited by what they found and, although Charlie's movement at the moment is very restricted, he feels that it is easier.

"We have got to wait for two weeks then we will work with him again and see if it has pushed him forward."