Bath are facing a double injury blow just as they prepare to lose players for England's autumn Test series. Centre Andrew Higgins could be out until Christmas with a broken jaw, while flanker Andy Beattie faces a month out with calf muscle problems.
"Andy will be out for around three to five weeks," said physio Chris Mallac.
Bath are already resigned to being without Mike Tindall, Danny Grewcock, Steve Borthwick and possibly Matt Stevens during the autumn series.
Both injuries happened during Bath's 37-30 Premiership win against Saracens on Saturday.
Higgins, who scored a try before the Bath management could replace him, has had his jaw plated following X-rays over the weekend which confirmed a fracture.
"There was nothing sinister in it," said Bath coach John Connolly.
"It happened in a tackle, and we were trying to get him off the field (Higgins had already been hurt) when he scored his try."
The setback will be particularly frustrating for Higgins, who had only recently recovered from an ankle injury sustained in Bath's pre-season tour of South Africa.
Meanwhile, Beattie has been one of the club's most influential players throughout 2004, performing a key role in their push towards last season's Premiership play-off final, and his loss will also be keenly felt.
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 