Jamie Brooks will not play for Oxford United again this season, after learning he needs keyhole surgery on his left hip.

And the question on the lips of U's supporters now, is whether Brooks will ever again be seen in a United shirt.

The 21-year-old is out of contract in the summer, and has not yet had any indication as to whether he will be offered a fresh deal.

Although he did not want to comment on his future, Brooks admitted the news of his injury has come as a big blow.

"I cannot believe it, to be honest," he said. "I'm still trying to get my head round it all.

"I went to see a surgeon in Cambridge on Saturday, and he told me that I needed an operation, which is not what I wanted to hear. It's just unbelievable - I could have done without it, to say the least."

Brooks has had an up-and-down season, and if ever a professional footballer has experienced the highs and lows of the game, then it is surely him.

After spending more than two years recovering from Guillain-Barre syndrome, Brooks was fit enough to come on against Chelsea in pre-season for his first taste of action for 26 months.

And after gradually building up his strength, Brooks - and United's supporters - could not hide their delight when he was named on the bench for the FA Cup match at Rochdale on November 13, where he came on as a substitute for the final six minutes.

And it just got better, when he was rewarded with a starting role against Cambridge in December.

He made six starts under the Argentine management, scoring goals in back-to-back matches against Wycombe and Darlington.

But he was then injured in training by a triallist in January, before picking up his hip injury against Bristol Rovers.

"I had only just come on against Rovers, and had a shot at goal," he explained.

"I landed on my left leg, with the full force of my body on my hip. I ran it off, like you do, but was in a bit of pain afterwards, and especially the next day.

"I trained for three weeks, hoping it would get better, but it didn't really improve.

"I have got a tear in my cartilage which is causing problems so have got to get it cleared out. I'm just waiting for a date now to have it done."

Brooks now faces a nervous wait to see just how the future will pan out for him.

"I have already been told that it is a 10-12 week recovery from the operation, which is not good," he said.

"I am out of contract in the summer, so I don't know what will happen.

"It's so frustrating because things were going so well and I hope that I proved to everyone that when I was fit, I still have a lot to offer."