Ifill, 33, went under the knife on Thursday in a bid to clean out his troublesome right ankle.

The Barbados international – who has scored 30 goals in 84 matches for Phoenix – will be on the sidelines for between a month and six weeks.

Wellington head coach Ricki Herbert said he hoped the surgery would help to improve Ifill's level of performance in the second half of the season.

"The injury has obviously been affecting Paul's form and rather than wait till the end of the season I felt it best to get it done now," Herbert said.

"It is in his best interest, and ours, to have him back to his best for the rest of the season."

Investigations are still ongoing after Ifill claimed he was racially abused in Sunday's 3-1 defeat against Adelaide United.