Cliff Byrne's injury woes look to have deepened even further with a situation Scunthorpe United boss Alan Knill has described as 'ridiculous'.

The centre-back has been for nerve tests this week in a bid to get to the root of an ongoing back problem which has kept him out of competitive action since January.

Only earlier this season it was hoped the Irishman was close to a return after beginning training again.

But the prospects of a comeback any time soon now appear to be diminishing.

When asked whether the injury could yet prove career threatening for the club captain, Knill said: "I don't know. But I know that if you've been out for coming up 10 months, then there's something drastically wrong with something that should have taken three or four.

"That's as far as I know really.

"He had a bit of a setback again last week.

"He's been for a test on Tuesday on his nerves, to see whether or not they are all functioning properly.

"We're waiting for the results on that."

For a player who has made over 200 appearances for United, the absence of any quick fix is becoming increasingly frustrating for all concerned.

Any return to training for Byrne is met with high hopes, only for them to be cruelly dashed.

"It's been stop-start," said Knill.

"I'm gutted for Cliff really.

"He comes back, he trains, everything is great and then all of a sudden it's not great.

"We have got to try to find out exactly what is the problem.

"It's been going on since January now.

"It's ridiculous.

"I think we're all getting a little bit tired and frustrated with it, Cliff more than anybody else.

"We're frustrated because he comes back into training, looks great and brings a lot to the training sessions, and then all of a sudden he's missing.

"It's frustrating for everybody, but obviously the most frustrated and disappointed is Cliff.

"We get excited because he's coming back and then he goes again.

"It's disappointing."