KEVIN Kyle will miss the start of the Premiership season after a French specialist recommended further surgery to cure his long-standing hip problem, writes Scott Wilson.

The Scotland international travelled to Paris this week to meet leading surgeon Thierry Boyer in an attempt to address the injury that could yet end his career.

Earlier this month, Kyle admitted he feared he might never play again but, while Boyer's prognosis was overwhelmingly positive, the Frenchman has urged the striker to undergo a second bout of surgery.

Kyle, who made just seven appearances at the start of last season, originally went under the surgeon's knife last September.

He had injured his hip in pre-season training but, while the operation initially looked to have been successful, the 23-year-old was left in pain whenever he attempted to step up his recovery programme.

A number of aborted comeback attempts left him feeling frustrated and forced Black Cats' boss Mick McCarthy to look at alternative methods of treatment.

A series of injections had minimal impact and, after the latest examination, a second operation now looks like the only option.

"Kevin went to see the surgeon in Paris with our physio and they are considering the next course of action," confirmed a club spokesperson. "It's looking likely he will face a second operation."

Pete Friar, Sunderland's senior physio, added that a decision on further surgery would be "made soon", with the club's medical staff desperate to give the striker the best possible chance of being involved on the field next season.

Kyle's absence would place a major strain on McCarthy's striking resources, making the former Republic of Ireland manager's pursuit of Ipswich duo Shefki Kuqi and Darren Bent all the more urgent.

Kuqi, who is out of contract this summer, is mulling over his options, while Bent has handed in a transfer request at Portman Road.

Ipswich boss Joe Royle is resigned to losing the England Under-21 international but, with Charlton and Aston Villa also understood to be interested in securing his services, Sunderland could struggle to compete in a bidding war that is likely to soar to £3m.

McCarthy is far more confident of capturing Bent's team-mate, Tommy Miller, despite the boyhood Black Cats' fan being offered a new two-year deal at Portman Road yesterday.

Ipswich have been unable to match the terms of the former Hartlepool midfielder's previous deal and, while Derby and Leeds have also declared their interest, Miller is understood to have his heart set on a North-East return.

"I am aware of interest in Tommy from Sunderland," confirmed Royle. "I can't say I am surprised.

"I suspect he may have another agenda. If I was the manager of a club going up to the Premiership and I saw that a 15-goal midfielder was available on a Bosman, I would be very interested."

McCarthy is having less luck in prising Frazer Richardson from Leeds. The Black Cats' boss is understood to have tabled a second offer of £300,000 yesterday morning, only to have had it dismissed by Leeds.

* Gary Breen has been forced to pull out of the Republic of Ireland squad ahead of next month's World Cup qualifiers.

* Ukranian international Anatolii Tymoschuk has claimed Middlesbrough are one of a host of clubs hoping to lure him to England.

The Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder is desperate to secure a move from his homeland this summer.