The 24-year-old Sunderland player has not played for his club since breaking his leg for the first time against Coventry in 2003, has had to undergo surgery on his knee.
It’s a huge blow for the former Celtic player who was hoping for a comeback after breaking the same leg during training 10 months ago but will now have to spent at least another three months on the sidelines.
"Colin's had another operation, on his knee and another rehab for him," said manager Mick McCarthy. "The break has been healing perfectly, but this cartilage problem is a secondary one since he's started training again."