Christian Cullen is to enter hospital for shoulder surgery

Cullen will enter hospital on Wednesday to have surgery amid fears that he could be out for up to two months.

The 58-times capped New Zealander injured his shoulder during Wellington's defeat by Auckland in the NPC final last month.

His absence will be a major blow to the twice-defeated European finalists.

"Christian will have a minor shoulder operation on Wednesday," said Munster coach Alan Gaffney.

"At the moment we cannot set a time on his likely recovery. We are hoping it won't be too long, but we accept that it could take him out of the early rounds of the Heineken Cup."

The delay to Cullen's appearance in Munster colours is a hammer blow to Jim Williams' team with an already long injury list.

Ireland flanker Alan Quinlan is a long- term victim from the World Cup.

He is sidelined until March following surgery to rectify a dislocated shoulder while scoring a try against Argentina.

I am very disappointed for Munster and their supporters Christian Cullen

Cullen was obviously disappointed at the news .

''It's very frustrating for me and I am very disappointed for Munster and their supporters,'' said Cullen .

''My intention coming here was to help Munster achieve success. That is still my objective.''

In the immediate future Munster take on Cardiff Blues at Musgrave Park on Friday night in a Celtic League clash that Gaffney calls "a critical match" for two teams desperate to climb out of the bottom half of the table.

"We are looking forward to the match, though on Monday was the first time we will have had any sort of proper preparation with our World Cup players," he said.

"A couple of them came in last week but today will be the first occasion this season that we have been together as a squad.

"The most important thing at this stage is to work out where we are heading and getting ourselves organised."