BAICHUNG Bhutia has spoken of his disappointment at being ruled out through injury for the rest of the season.

Bury's Indian international striker admitted he felt "very low" as doubts about his future at Gigg Lane continue to grow.

Bhutia's contract runs out at the end of the season and it would be a surprise if the Shakers will offer him a new deal.

"I thought I was over the original injury and I was even looking to make a first-team return," Bhutia told the Steve Canavan of the Bolton Evening News.

"But after experiencing some discomfort I had a scan over the weekend and it showed I needed a further operation. I had a one-hour operation on Saturday and the doctors made some holes in the bone and drilled blood out of it.

"This is the other side of the cartilage on which I had the first operation two months ago.

"I'm just frustrated and very low at the moment. I want to be out there playing football and I can't."

After Bhutia's first operation he made what seemed like a successful comeback, scoring in a reserve match.

However, he didn't feel the injury had healed sufficiently and decided on a second spell under the surgeon's knife.

"It was my decision to have this second operation. I had been training but I could feel it wasn't right," said Bhutia."I was experiencing a lot of pain when I was turning and shooting.

"This is the longest I have ever been out injured in my career. But now I've got to get on with my rehabilitation. I can't put any weight on it at the moment and I will be on crutches for about eight weeks.

"I will wait and see how I am progressing over the next three or four weeks and then I may go back to India to see my family."

The 26-year-old is particularly upset because for the first time in his time at Bury, he had nailed down a first team place before getting injured.

Boss Andy Preece had been keen for the striker to return and intended to play him behind main hitman Jon Newby.

Now he has had to scrap this plan and unless Bhutia makes a remarkable recovery, his Bury career could be on the scrapheap too.