INFLUENTIAL Worcester Warriors skipper Gerrit-Jan van Velze has had a knee operation and will be out of action for around five weeks.

The South African number eight was on crutches in the stands as his team-mates suffered an agonising 29-20 Aviva Premiership defeat against Leicester Tigers at Sixways.

Van Velze missed Warriors’ 28-20 win against Newcastle Falcons last month with a knee injury but returned to score a try in their 48-18 humbling against reigning champions Saracens at Twickenham.

However, Warriors director of rugby Dean Ryan confirmed van Velze’s knee problem had resurfaced.

“GJ has had an operation on his knee and will be out for four or five weeks,” said Ryan.

Phil Dowson skippered Warriors instead and the hosts produced a brave display against much-fancied Tigers, who fought back from 17-0 down.

Worcester finished with 13 men after Irish lock Donncha O’Callaghan was dismissed by referee Wayne Barnes early in the second half for two yellow card offences.

Rookie prop Gareth Milasinovich was sin-binned and Max Cox was also yellow carded in the closing stages as Tigers used their forward power and driving maul to great effect.

Warriors were denied a losing bonus point at the death when Lachlan McCaffrey was driven over in the final play and Owen Williams landed the conversion.

Worcester have little time to dwell on the loss and will be making wholesale changes for Thursday’s European Challenge Cup pool tie against rivals Gloucester at Sixways (7.45pm).

They will aim to bounce back from a poor 27-8 defeat at Italian side Zebre in their last group match.

Prop Nick Schonert will remain on the sidelines after his nasty facial injury against Saracens.

“Feeling sorry for ourselves and tapping ourselves on the back and saying what great losers we are doesn’t move us forward,” admitted Ryan.

“Nick probably won’t be involved on Thursday and I have got to get my head around thinking where we get tightheads from."