SCOTLAND star Euan Murray is unlikely to return for Worcester Warriors until next month as treatment continues on his injured knee.
Director of rugby Dean Ryan revealed the 33-year-old prop has not trained with the club since November after damaging his Achilles tendon during the autumn internationals.
The injury has ruled Murray out for the past five Warriors games and Ryan said he did not expect to see the experienced front row back in action for “at least four weeks”.
“Euan has still got an Achilles injury and he has not trained with the squad since playing for Scotland,” Ryan said. “He has still got pain and he has not been able to run, so it is not a short term problem and it will be three or four weeks, if not greater, before we see him back.”
Meanwhile, talented centre Andy Symons has joined Warriors’ increasing injury list after sustaining a broken collarbone during Worcester’s defeat to Saracens.
Wing duo David Lemi (shoulder) and Dean Hammond (knee) also remain sidelined, but Ryan said his side cannot afford to dwell on their injury troubles.
“The unlucky tag seems to fit us at the moment because whenever we get one back we lose another,” he added.
“But that is just the nature of having a small squad as you go to the same people too often compared to everyone else and physically that is difficult to do. For instance, the game against Saracens was as physical as I can remember for a long time, so people are going to get hurt if they front up against it.
“We have got some key people out, but if you dwell on it you just create mountains to climb. We just need to bring the next guy in and work through it.”