Sunderland midfielder Sebastian Larsson will miss the final three games of the Premier League season after undergoing surgery on a hernia.

The Black Cats today confirmed that the 26-year-old had been allowed to have an operation in Manchester earlier this week in a bid to be fit for Sweden's UEFA EURO 2012 campaign.

Larsson underwent what is described as a "minor" procedure and will now sit out Saturday's home game against Bolton Wanderers, the trip to Fulham and the final-day clash with title hopefuls Manchester United.

The winger told the club's website: "I have had problems with groin pain for a couple of weeks now. I am extremely grateful to the club supporting me and giving me this opportunity to have the operation immediately.

I am extremely grateful to the club supporting me and giving me this opportunity to have the operation immediately.
Sebastian Larsson, Sunderland midfielder

"This means the conditions to be prepared for EURO 2012 are much better than if I had to wait until the end of the season. With this solution, I will have a couple of weeks for rehabilitation and after that, hopefully I will be able to practice in full with the Swedish team - under the condition I am selected."

Larsson, who joined the Black Cats on a free transfer from relegated Birmingham City last year, has enjoyed a fine first season on Wearside, making 39 appearances and scoring eight goals.

He is currently level with Stephane Sessegnon in the leading scorer stakes, although the Benin international now has the opportunity to claim that title for himself.

On the international front, Larsson will hope the surgery will allow him to play a full part for his country in Poland and Ukraine this summer. The Swedes have been drawn in the same group as England and will open their campaign against co-hosts Ukraine in Kiev on 11 June.

O'Neill: Seb deserved decision
Manager Martin O'Neill revealed that Larsson offered to delay surgery until the end of the campaign. He said: "Seb has been complaining of pain for some weeks now - he's really been sore.

"He has got through the games, but it's been a bit of a problem for him and he hasn't been able to train properly. Seb was going to wait until the end of the season, but then he wouldn't have got anything done with the EUROs in mind.

"I thought that he has really put the effort in here and he deserved to try and get himself right for the EUROs. It [the decision] was really down to myself. Seb was really prepared to play through it, but his efforts over the last few months have been fantastic, so we will try and do without him for the last few games.

"Having the surgery now gives him the chance to be properly fit for the EUROs and then have some sort of summer break before coming back to us fresh and ready for the start of next season."

Larsson will be joined on the sidelines by full-back Kieran Richardson, who has had a similar operation. He too will miss the remainder of the season, although O'Neill at least has a ready-made replacement in loan signing Wayne Bridge.

The manager said: "Kieran's injury came on a bit more suddenly, only in about the last ten days. He has been diagnosed with a similar injury and has had the operation. That means he will miss the rest of the season."