GLOUCESTER RUGBY INJURY CRISIS

Gloucester back-row stars Ross Moriarty and Ben Morgan have suffered further injury setbacks and will miss Friday’s Premiership clash against Saracens.

The Cherry and Whites have been without two of their big international stars for most of this season so far and both have attempted comebacks in recent weeks but will miss Friday night’s Premiership clash against league leaders Saracens at Kingsholm.

Gloucester and Hartpury starletwill be out until February with knee injury

Moriarty only made his first appearance of the season in the Anglo-Welsh Cup game against Leicester less than two weeks ago but is struggling with a nerve injury similar to the one he picked up on the British and Irish Lions tour in New Zealand that caused him to be out for five months.

The issue occurred in a training session but no timescale has been set on when the Wales star could return.

Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann said: “It’s not the same injury but it’s similar symptoms that we just manage and treat.

“I don’t want to pinpoint it as I’m not on the medical side of it.

England number eight Morgan picked up a calf injury against Exeter on the opening day and has suffered a recurrence of the problem just two games into his comeback that is expected to keep him out for three to four weeks

Ackermann said that Ben was unlucky and that he did the calf in the Bath game and responded well in his rehab and treatment and then in a running session the previous week, he felt his calf again, so they had to back off from the rehab progression.

One player who will boost Gloucester’s ranks against Saracens is centre Mark Atkinson, who has recovered from a finger injury.

Henry Purdy will face a fitness test on Thursday after going off with a leg injury in the Anglo-Welsh Cup game against London Irish.