Friedel: In fine form (GaryMPrior/GettyImages)

The American international, who has been in fine form in recent weeks, will have surgery after Sunday's clash with Everton.

Friedel has been struggling with the problem for several weeks and aggravated it in the build-up to the 2-1 win at Arsenal, when he turned in a heroic performance.

But boss Graeme Souness hopes that his first-choice keeper will only miss a couple of games.

'He will go in and have an operationand hopefully he will just miss a couple of games,' he said.

'We don't want to delay it as we have a busy programme over Christmas. I always said the Premiership was our priority and that's how it remains.

After the match against high-flying Everton, Rovers' next two Premiership games are against Charlton and Fulham.