IRELAND wing Simon Geoghegan is travelling to the United States at the weekend for operations on the big toe joints in both feet in an effort to regain fitness.

Geoghegan has had recurring trouble with the joints and an operation in London during the summer did not rectify the trouble. Geoghegan will undergo the operation in San Diego and will be out of the game for three months

Geoghegan played for Bath against Orrell last Saturday and scored a try but did not finish the match. "The club had injury problems and I played because of that but I was struggling from the start and was really sluggish. I am going to San Diego on Sunday and will have operations on both toe joints by an orthopaedic surgeon who specialises in that particular area. I just hope it works out and that I will be able to regain full fitness. It has been frustrating and extremely disappointing.

"The problem with the joint in my left big toe is especially acute and there is also a lot of wear in the right toe joint and I have been told that I must have an operation on that as well to rectify the problem. I had hoped that the trouble had been rectified during the summer, but unfortunately that is not the ease.

"I am encouraged by the fact that rugby league player Alan Tait had exactly the same problems and surgery cured him. It is imperative that I have the operations and it is crucial for me that these operations are successful if I am to get back to full fitness. I am resigned to being out of the game for three months."

Geoghegan has been capped 37 times for Ireland and fully fit is one of the best wings in the game. His last appearance for Ireland was against England in March. He missed the championship match against France but returned to play in the win over Wales and in the match against England. He missed the Peace match against the Barbarians in May. He has scored 51 points for Ireland including 11 tries.