WORCESTER have revealed that Leon Greeff was in a "life threatening" condition after a knee operation.
The Zimbabwean flanker, who dislocated his knee back in November, has had to go under the knife five times since initial repair work was carried out.
Greeff underwent two routine ops in November and January to reconstruct his knee but a subsequent post-op infection meant the 29-year-old spending four weeks in hospital.
"He was very ill," said Clare Woodward, Worcester's physio.
"Certainly, it was a life threatening condition because the infection was so bad. Ultimately, we've got on top of it but he was feeling very ill and had to spend four weeks in hospital.
"He's out now and we're hoping that he can get back on track soon. It's probably put him two months back on his recovery."
Meanwhile, another injury victim, Jon Hylton, looks set to take part in Worcester's Premiership season after all.
The winger, who ruptured cruciate ligaments during the Warriors' final pre-season game against Leinster in August, is expected to be playing again by the end of the month.
Hylton won a contract last summer on the basis of his raw pace and his speed caused all sorts of problems for Worcester's pre-season opponents before the injury.
Now, the 23-year-old faces a fight for his Sixways future with him once again out of contract in the summer.
"He's training again now," said Worcester's director of rugby John Brain. "I'd certainly expect Jon to be in contention to play at the end of March or beginning of April.
"He's doing fine at the moment and he's on schedule. Obviously Jon has a lot to prove after his injury with him out of contract in the summer.
"We just need to make sure that he has recovered fully and got that pace back."
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