WORCESTER Rugby Club have been warned to take it easy with Richard Bates as he comes back from injury.

The back row ace, who partially dislocated his shoulder in the 36-9 defeat at Leicester last month, is likely to miss the whole of January because of the injury.

The Sixways club have been told that Bates is going to be out of action for five weeks and, because of the nature of the injury, they cannot rush him back.

"The specialist's advice is to manage the injury conservatively," said Worcester's director of rugby John Brain. "The period we have been told is five weeks initially but he is having that reassessed constantly.

"It's something we have just got to keep on top of and we will not be rushing him back. The worst thing for Richard would be to bring him back too soon and create more problems."

Worcester's injury woes, however, have been cushioned somewhat by the return to fitness of Christian Evans.

The back row star, who has been out of action for two months with a dislocated collarbone, will take his place on the bench as the National One title chasers take on Coventry at Sixways.

Evans, who picked up the injury early on in the November 2 win at Plymouth, has been declared fit again to play a big part in what will be a crucial month in Worcester's season.

Worcester visit Orrell and Exeter in the coming weeks and Brain was delighted to have Evans' experience available to him.

"It's a big boost," he said. "Christian is a big player for us and has been a rock of consistency in the time I have been at Worcester. We have missed him but it is testament to the strength of our squad that we have continued to improve this season without him. With Richard Bates out for a while, it is the best news possible."