PLYMOUTH Albion vice-captain Geoff Griffiths is not expecting to play again this year after breaking his fifth metatarsal for a third time since joining the club.

Griffiths broke the bone in his left foot twice last year – the second occasion at the start of February which caused him to miss the last three months of the 2008-09 season.

The 23-year-old utility back's injury was far worse than first thought and he had to undergo an operation to insert a screw as well as having a bone graft.

Griffiths has started each of Albion's four league games this term.

But after sustaining the injury during last Saturday's 30-24 defeat at Exeter, Griffiths will miss today's game with Cornish Pirates and is unlikely to feature until January 2010 at the earliest.

"To say I am disappointed is an understatement," said Griffiths, who is Albion's leading try scorer this season with two. All I want to be doing is playing rugby and contributing to the team.

"I just got my foot trapped between two players and it was real rotten luck that the bone has broken again – there was nothing I could do.

"I am set to have another operation on Tuesday and from there, it will be another three months until I am likely to be back playing again.

"I already have a screw in my toe, but that has to be taken out and replaced with a bigger and longer one.

"There is a possibility that I may have to have another bone graft as well.

"I would love to get back playing as soon as possible, but I am realistically looking at coming back in the new year.

"It is very unlikely that I will be back before then."

Griffiths' absence for the next three months will be a real blow to Albion.

The former Rotherham player is equally effective at full-back, winger or centre, and he impressed playing right wing at Exeter last Saturday.

His place in tomorrow's Championship clash against the Cornish Pirates at Brickfields is taken by Ben Mercer.

The 22-year-old summer signing from National Division One side Blaydon has started three of Plymouth's four matches this term, scoring a try on his debut in the opening day 33-10 win over Birmingham-Solihull.

But tomorrow will see Mercer make his first start on the wing having played centre on the other three occasions.

"Because of Geoff's unavailability, Ben Mercer is going to come in on the right wing," said chairman of rugby Graham Dawe.

"It is quite a big ask for Ben, but it is not a foreign position to him and we will just have to see how he goes.

"Ben joined the club as a centre, but played on the wing last season with Blaydon."

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