Ward, who missed four months of the season with a knee problem, is still struggling with the injury and has been forced to take pain-killing injections to get through games recently. The 25-year-old is now ready to go under the knife to try and correct the problem so he is fully fit for the start of next season. Asked whether he needed exploratory surgery, the Irishman told the Express & Star: "Yes, I need to get it right for next season "I probably need some sort of treatment as there's still a little bit of swelling there." Ward admitted he could not carry on any longer. "Some games are harder than others and at that stage, the gaffer was right to take me off," he said. "I had probably pushed my knee as far as I could. "I probably have to get something done in the summer as it needs to be right next season. "I had a big setback with the injury and I've played a lot more games than I would've been expected to because of my knee," he said. "I'll get myself right now and come back fully fit for next season. "Touch wood there will then be any further problems."
