RELIEVED Cherries star Garreth O'Connor may have escaped a trip to the operating theatre after initially fearing he had become the latest victim of the club's hernia jinx.

O'Connor was concerned he was on the verge of following in the footsteps of Neil Young and Karl Broadhurst after he started to suffer the early symptoms towards the end of last month.

Young is currently recovering from double hernia surgery, while Cherries skipper Broadhurst is bravely playing through the pain barrier until he goes under the knife in the summer.

And although a doctor confirmed O'Connor had been struck down by the same problem, the Dubliner has been boosted as the condition has steadily subsided in the past couple of weeks.

O'Connor told the Daily Echo: "I was struggling a couple of weeks ago and my groin was very sore. It was gradually getting worse and worse so I went to see the doctor.

"He told me I had the start of a hernia in there. He said it wasn't too bad and he thought it would hold out until the summer.

"But in the past couple of weeks, the pain has gone completely and I haven't noticed it at all.

"I know that can happen and I know it might come back at any time, but I'm just hoping it won't.

"I've seen the scars on Youngy so it's something to be avoided if you can. I know it's a very common operation these days, but you still don't want to go under the knife unless you really have to."

O'Connor has been a model of consistency on the left-hand side of the Cherries midfield this season and has also rediscovered his goalscoring touch in recent weeks.

The 26-year-old Irishman, who spent most of his early days at the club on the substitutes' bench, has hit three goals in the last five games to take his tally for the season to seven.

He bagged a stunning volley during Cherries' 1-1 draw against Sheffield Wednesday last month and added to his excellent individual strike at Stockport by netting a first-half wonder goal at Port Vale five days ago.

But despite his efforts, O'Connor knows Cherries need to get back to winning ways to keep alive their League One promotion hopes after just one win in seven.

O'Connor, preparing for the visit of Oldham to Dean Court, said: "We've got to be looking to get three points if we want to stay in touch with the play-offs, but yet again, it's going to be another tough game.

"They are a decent side and had a good win in the FA Cup against Manchester City so it's going to be a hard game. But we're at home so hopefully that will work in our favour."

Colchester United striker Craig Fagan will miss Cherries' visit to Layer Road on Tuesday due to suspension.

Leading marksman Fagan, who scored the U's' opener during their 3-1 win at Dean Court in September, has been hit by a two-match ban for accruing 10 bookings, according to the latest suspension list on the FA website.