Newby facing surgery break

17/01/2008 12:26:38 PM
Sportal

The Highlanders will be without captain Craig Newby for at least six weeks as he goes under the knife to repair a troublesome foot injury.

Newby sustained the injury during Otago's 2007 Air New Zealand Cup campaign and it has struggled to recover since.

He heads into surgery today [Thursday], leaving new Highlanders coach Glenn Moore to appoint a new skipper for the early rounds of the Super 14.

"Craig has not fully recovered from his foot injury that occurred in the Air NZ Cup and because of the unusual nature of the injury it has been quite difficult in diagnosing what is wrong with Craig's foot," Moore said.

"The surgeons are going to remove a piece of bone from Craig’s foot that has been causing most of the discomfort and pain for him."

The rehabilitation phase of the operation alone is likely to take six weeks, but Moore is hopeful of having Newby's services for the Highlanders' first home match against the Waratahs on March 1.

However, he is almost certain to miss his side's early-season away trip to Australia against the Reds in Brisbane and the Brumbies in Canberra, and Moore may look to either halfback Jimmy Cowan or prop Jamie Mackintosh to take the captaincy in Newby's absence.

That may depend on Mackintosh's recovery from another foot injury, although his coach reports good progress.

"Jamie is recovering really well from his foot injury and there is optimism in the camp that he will be available for the first competition game on Friday 15th February against the Reds," Moore said.