BIG ANDY Considine is set to undergo surgery on a displaced joint problem - and could be out until after summer.
The 22-year-old is in the middle of his best season at the Dons, but has had issues with a niggling injury in recent weeks.
And Conso, who has worked incredibly hard on his strength and fitness in the past year, has now been forced to admit defeat and get the problem sorted out in hospital.
Dons boss Mark McGhee said: "It is something that has been grumbling for quite some time, but it has flared up and it has got to the point when he could just not play through it anymore.
"It needs surgery, so he will have it done and then get himself fit again for next season.
"He is a big strong lad, who is extremely fit, so that should help speed his recovery.
"It is a shame for him and a blow for us. Andrew has been very consistent this season and with Zander Diamond on the way back it would have been nice to have competition for places in defence - especially with Andrew being left-sided."
Considine's loss has come at the right time for Diamond, whose position in the Dons rearguard was under thread from the solid Ifil-Conso partnership.
Charismatic Zander will be in the squad for this Saturday's Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League clash at home to Kilmarnock after finally regaining fitness following a lengthy lay-off.
