Garvey may miss Warriors season

Winger Marcel Garvey is contracted to stay at Sixways until 2010

Worcester Warriors winger Marcel Garvey may not play for the club this season if he is forced to undergo surgery.

Garvey has not played since the August Middlesex Sevens after suffering a blood flow problem in his hip joint.

Warriors director of rugby Mike Ruddock said: "There's no real time scale on his return. The best-case scenario is towards the end of the season.

"Worst case scenario is an operation to drill the hip to increase the blood flow and that we see him next season."

Ruddock added: "The initial prognosis was to put him on crutches so there was no weight on the joint, to get more blood flow.

"That hasn't really happened. The operation is obviously the last thing on the check list. Hopefully, it won't come to that and we'll start to see some improvement over the coming weeks.

"It is a serious condition, though, and we need to make sure we manage it properly, give him every chance to recover and not force him back."

Mike Ruddock says Garvey will be given every chance to recover

Ruddock, who has also had to contend with injuries to two other Warriors' wingers Miles Benjamin and Rico Gear this term, says he does not know when or if Garvey will play.

"We've seen a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel in terms of the next stage of treatment," he said, "even if that means taking some medication.

"If the surgeons think that is best, we'll do that and hopefully see some improvement.

"It is frustrating for him because he just wants to get out there and play, especially after having such a good pre-season.

"He's in the club daily and is a good, fine young man who has a young family. We'll make every effort to make it right and not pressurise him."

Worcester Warriors return to league action at Sale Sharks on Friday (2000 GMT). There will be full commentary on BBC Hereford and Worcester in a Rugby Special on 104 FM.