LEINSTER defensive coach Jacques Nienaber has issued a concerning update on Caelan Doris shoulder Injury.
The Ireland and Leinster skipper left the Aviva Stadium pitch injured during the 37-34 Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Northampton on Saturday.
And it was announced today by the URC province that back-row star will undergo a shoulder operation this week.
The news comes as a major concern as the Ireland ace was a certain pick for Andy Farrell‘s British and Irish Lions squad that is set to be named on Thursday.
And Leinster’s World Cup winning assistant boss revealed that the province hope it’s not as bad as it seems.
Nienaber issued the worrying update to RTE Sport on Monday afternoon.
He said: “He saw a specialist and I think there’s some further investigation that needs to be done.
“Fingers crossed that things aren’t as bad as we think it is.
“But in the last couple of months that I’ve worked with Caelan, he’s not a guy that comes off the pitch with injury.
“So, when I subjectively saw him coming off the pitch on Saturday, in my mind I thought this must be quite serious.
“We’ll probably know more at the back end of the week but my gut – and it’s only my gut – says that I think it might be serious, but fingers crossed it might not be.”
Nienaber went on to admit that the province are unsure of any timeline for his return as he must have a procedure before they can learn the extent of the damage.
He added: “It’s difficult for me to comment on the selection but it will definitely be a race.
“Like I say, a shoulder injury depends on the structure, the damage, it can be anything between six weeks to two months, versus a four to six-month thing.
“So depending on the amount of damage within the shoulder joint and all the structures involved.
“That will determine that. We’re not 100% sure, we know there’s damage.
“Caelan, as a person, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him leave the pitch with an injury that wasn’t serious.”
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