Summer surgery for Hahnemann April 02 2008
Reading goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann will go under the knife to remove a metal plate in his hand at the end of the season.
The 35-year-old underwent surgery last summer after injuring his hand in the final game of the previous campaign against Blackburn and has been playing with the metal plate and screws all season.
It has caused the American some discomfort but he plans to rectify the problem during the off-season and make sure his hand has healed sufficiently for the start of the new campaign.
"I've still got the metal plate in my hand and have a date in May to have it taken out along with the screws," Hahnemann told the club's official website.
"It's giving me a few problems, but we have a long off-season, so there will be plenty of time for it to heal."
Hahnemann recorded his 100th clean sheet in English football on Saturday when the Royals drew 0-0 with Rovers and, despite turning 36 in June, he believes he can follow in the footsteps of compatriot Brad Friedel and still play for many years to come.
"Keepers can last longer than outfield players. Take Brad Friedel, for example, he's played 350 games for Blackburn.
"I'll play as long as my body will let me. We don't have to run around for 90 minutes, it's about how your body feels and if you can stay injury free. Injuries are the things that stop keepers.
"Sometimes it's hard to get up in the morning for training when your body is killing you. When that time comes for me when I can't train anymore, then I'll know that that's it.
"But at the moment I feel great. I feel like a 25-year-old - and I act like I'm 16!"