Alex Cuthbert has emerged as a significant doubt for Wales’ autumn programme of internationals after the Ospreys revealed he was likely to be sidelined by injury for the next few weeks.
The 52-cap wing has enjoyed a rejuvenation at Test level since returning to Welsh rugby from Exeter Chiefs last year, playing in five Tests and producing one of the finest displays of his career in the Six Nations clash with England.
But he picked up a shoulder injury in the second Test against South Africa in the summer and has yet to start a match this season.
Read more: Leigh Halfpenny and Ken Owens finally declared fit to return after long-term absences
And with Wales facing New Zealand in barely five weeks’ time, that’s a concern for head coach Wayne Pivac.
Ospreys team boss Toby Booth has revealed the extent of Cuthbert's problem: “He is struggling, to be fair.
"He has not been on the training park from a team perspective yet, which is annoying and frustrating for him. We are getting to the bottom of it but he looks a little way away at the moment.”
Asked if the 6ft 6in wide-man would be in his selection thoughts over the next few weeks, Booth delivered a one-word answer: “No.”
As to whether he’d be ready for the November matches with Wales, the coach said: “Again, the next couple of weeks will be critical.”
In response to a question about how long he was from returning, Booth replied: “I don't know, I can't answer that with any degree of accuracy.
“There’s a lot of the individual element in how the injury responds.
"I have spoken before about different injuries to Gareth Anscombe and Justin Tipuric, the last 10 percent is the difficult part. Getting people back to 90 percent is easier than the last 10 percent and getting them back on the field.
"We are not at that stage yet.”
Pivac will be worried because he already has Liam Williams sidelined for the autumn Tests by an injury. Although Leigh Halfpenny is set to return for the Scarlets, he faces a race to be for international rugby after close on 15 months on the sidelines.
Losing Cuthbert would be a further blow, albeit the national coach has the likes of Johnny McNicholl, Josh Adams and Louis Rees-Zammit as potential back-three options. Adams, however, has injury issues of his own at the moment.
Better news is that Owen Watkin and Gareth Anscombe are back from head knocks, while prop Gareth Thomas is also on the mend after hamstring trouble. "He has trained, which is encouraging,” said Booth. “ It is just a case of whether we have enough work into him for him to be available for this weekend.
"With those sorts of injuries you have to be mindful we don't get them in a vulnerable state to get injured again. That is a judgement call we will make later on in the week to see how far he has gone. If not this week then next week."
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