Comeback plans for jockey Stathi Katsidis have suffered another setback after he underwent further surgery on a broken leg.Katsidis had surgery on Monday to graft bone from his hip to help mend his fractured left leg.He suffered a compound fracture to his femur in an accident while breaking in horses at Pinnacle Park near Beaudesert, south of Brisbane, in November.Katsidis had a rod and plate inserted in the leg when he underwent surgery immediately following the mishap.The dual premiership-winn

Comeback plans for jockey Stathi Katsidis have suffered another setback after he underwent further surgery on a broken leg.

Katsidis had surgery on Monday to graft bone from his hip to help mend his fractured left leg.

He suffered a compound fracture to his femur in an accident while breaking in horses at Pinnacle Park near Beaudesert, south of Brisbane, in November.

Katsidis had a rod and plate inserted in the leg when he underwent surgery immediately following the mishap.

The dual premiership-winning jockey has been working as a breaker for six months after Queensland Racing Limited stewards withdrew his licence for nine months following a positive test to ecstasy.

The latest setback is a disappointing blow for one of Queensland's major riding talents who was hoping to resume riding last month after serving his drug disqualification.

"I had hoped to be back riding by mid-February or early March but unfortunately my leg wasn't healing properly," Katsidis said.

"The doctor took some bone from my hip and grafted it around the fracture site.

"My doctor's told me I should be able to get back on a horse in six weeks but I can't move much at the moment.

"I was only released from hospital yesterday and I'm now hoping to make my comeback around April."

Meanwhile, jockey Jim Byrne received some encouraging news from his doctor on Wednesday and is hopeful of making his comeback in March.

Byrne has been on crutches for nine weeks following hip surgery in mid-November.

He had corrective surgery on his pelvis which he badly smashed in a race fall two years ago.

Byrne expected to be sidelined for only six weeks but underestimated the extent of the surgery required.

"The doctors had to cut the top of my femur off and they had to insert two big screws which meant I ended up on crutches," he said.

"It's taken a lot longer than I originally thought but I'm just glad I can walk without the crutches.

"As soon as I get some movement back in my hip I'll be going back to the doctor and hopefully I should be back riding around March."