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The Emirates Western Force has likely lost Caleb Brown for the remainder of its UK development tour after the newly-recruited winger pulled a hamstring during a team training session in Northampton yesterday.
Brown’s injury on the eve of the team’s fourth tour match against Northampton Saints on Saturday (8.30pm WST kick off), sees him join Scott Staniforth, Sam Wykes and James Dougall as early tour casualties.
Australian Under 20s lock Wykes was yesterday ordered to undergo surgery to repair damage to his left shoulder, which was dislocated during a training session last week. He left the tour last Saturday to return to Perth.
Emirates Western Force team doctor Mark De Cruz said Wykes could return to training within four months.
“Sam will undergo a reconstruction of his shoulder within the next seven to 10 days and faces a rehabilitation period of between four and six months,” said De Cruz.
Staniforth was ordered to undergo a second arthroscope on his right knee after a visit to a knee specialist in Perth this afternoon.
The 91-match utility missed the final three rounds of the 2008 Super 14 season with knee cartilage damage and was forced home early from the UK tour after aggravating the injury in the team’s opening victory over the Newcastle Falcons.
De Cruz said Staniforth would likely be available for the start of 2009 pre-season training in October.
“Scott will have a clean up on his knee but our initial assessment indicates that he should be fit to return to training when the squad returns for pre-season (October 6).
Emirates Western Force Coach John Mitchell will confirm his lineup tomorrow for Saturday’s clash with newly-promoted Guinness Premiership side Northampton
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