COWDENBEATH midfielder Markus Paatelainen this morning faces surgery for the third time to repair his horrific leg injury.

The younger brother of manager Mixu required an emergency operation in the early hours of Sunday morning in Edinburgh after he was injured in a tackle from Elgin's Hugh Dickson in his team's 4-0 away win.

A haematoma had developed inside his right leg, restricting the blood supply and could even have led to the loss of his leg. A second operation on Tuesday failed to close the entire wound.

Mixu said: "The doctors couldn't close the whole wound. They did on one side but could only do two-thirds on the other side as it was still too swollen. The doctors say there is nothing to worry about and are very positive about finishing the surgery."