Loan ranger Geoff Pitcher's hopes of impressing new Albion manager Mark McGhee have been wrecked by a major health scare.

Pitcher's stint with Woking, due to end today, was cut short by emergency bowel surgery.

The pint-sized midfielder finds himself on the sidelines yet again, just when the Seagulls have appointed their fifth manager in his time at the club.

Pitcher has endured a nightmare run of bad luck since Micky Adams signed him from Kingstonian for £25,000 in the summer of 2001.

The former Millwall, Watford and Colchester playmaker has been plagued by a succession of injuries which ruined any chance of him forcing his way into the plans of Peter Taylor, Martin Hinshelwood or Steve Coppell.

Now Pitcher faces a wait for an opportunity under McGhee as well after his latest horrifying setback.

"I had to come back early from Woking for an operation," he said. "I had a lump growing near my bowel and it was quite dangerous. They had to remove it sharpish. They said if they didn't operate now I could end up needing an incontinence bag."

Pitcher has been loaned out to Woking (twice), Stevenage and Dagenham since signing for the Seagulls. It is over two years since the 28-year-old made the last of his two starts for the club.

"Since Micky Adams left it has really been stop-start for me," he said. "It has just been a cycle of getting back to fitness then another injury.

"I thought it was the end of it when I had a groin operation in the summer. I played three games for Woking, but now this has flared up and I am back to square one.

"I wish I had a pound for every person that has said to me I haven't been given a chance, but I cannot really fault the managers. I have either been injured or returning from injury.

"It is very frustrating because people come up to me all the time saying the team needs someone creative in midfield.

"My three-year contract is up at the end of the season. I've got to start thinking about the future because I have got a mortgage and kids to feed, but I just want to get fit first and back playing competitive football."

Dean Hammond and David Lee are on loan to Leyton Orient and Thurrock respectively for another fortnight.