The next seven weeks are going to be sheer agony for Charlie Oatway.

Albion's combative midfielder has just had surgery, but it's not so much a case of physical pain he is facing as mental torture.

He cannot bear the thought of being unable to contribute to the promotion run-in.

Oatway had an operation on Wednesday to repair a nagging problem with his left knee.

It is expected to sideline him from the rest of the League programme, although he could be back if things go horribly wrong and the Seagulls end up in the play-offs.

Oatway hobbled off early on against Leyton Orient a fortnight ago.

The tough-tackling 27-year-old is not the type to complain or make excuses, so the injury was hushed up. He has, in fact, been troubled by it for much longer.

"I've had it for just over two months," Oatway revealed. "At first I couldn't bend it properly. It was just a case of watching it, but gradually over the last couple of weeks it has got worse.

"At times I have been limping in the last 15 to 20 minutes and not getting about the pitch as much as I should. That means Dodge (Paul Rogers) and Chippy (Richard Carpenter) have had a little bit more to do.

"At Leyton Orient I just went up for a header. It was nothing malicious, but as I landed it just gave way. Apparently a bit of bone chipped off."

Oatway was initially expected to be out for a couple of weeks, so the prolonged lay-off has exaggerated his frustration.

"When it happened it was just a case of calming it down," he explained. "I went to see the surgeon on the Tuesday. He gave me an injection of steroids into the knee, which he seemed to think would do the trick. As far as I was concerned I was coming back, so on the Friday morning I strapped it up for a light jog with Mal (physio Malcolm Stuart).

"We picked up the pace and it went clonk, so I knew then I was in trouble. I thought I was going to be allright, which made the whole thing harder to deal with. When I broke down I was devastated."

The injury has robbed Oatway of the chance for revenge in next Saturday's table-topping showdown against Chesterfield at Withdean. He was controversially sent-off in the Seagulls' 1-0 defeat at Saltergate earlier in the season.

"It's not a case of individual games so much as the rest of the season," he groaned. "The gaffer, players and staff have all been great, but no matter what they say you do not feel part of things.

"I have been involved since I first signed for the club. It feels a little bit weird and to be honest not very nice. At Brentford we went up and it's a great time."

There is one crumb of comfort for Oatway. He signed an extension to his contract earlier this season and can look forward to campaigning in the Second Division with the Seagulls.

Former team-mate Phil Stant is unlikely to still be around by then, but Oatway believes the veteran striker has an important part to play in Albion's promotion push. The 38-year-old proved his worth as a late substitute by scoring just four minutes into his home debut against Hull at Withdean last Saturday.

"He was on the coaching stafff when I was at Lincoln, but I played with him at first at Cardiff," Oatway said. "He was one of the experienced pros who you learnt from.

"He brings a lot of experience and when he gets a chance he puts it away. He is also good around the dressing room. He shouts and hollers, but everything he says is constructive."

Oatway's absence means manager Micky Adams is planning to add midfield cover to his squad. He still hopes to make two loan signings before next Thursday's transfer deadline.