ONCE again Mike Ruddock’s latest injury update didn’t make for good reading at Worcester Warriors’ weekly press conference.

The Sixways director of rugby has been forced into recruiting Eoghan Hickey on loan from London Irish after a raft of injuries to his backs.

The Welshman hopes there is some light at the end of the tunnell with several key players expected to be fit for the Guinness Premiership clash with Bristol a week on Saturday.

He said: “Miles Benjamin will be out for 11 to 12 weeks —he’s had to have a plate put into the joint around the ankle and the fibula, so it’s slightly complex, but the prognosis is good.

“He’ll be in plaster for a while, then he needs to get back into running and putting a load on the leg, but, the surgeon is happy he should be back in 11 weeks or so.

“Chris Latham is still out, but will hopefully be back for the Bristol game — that is also the case for Chris Pennell.

“Matthew Jones is still about five weeks away with a broken foot, but Ryan Powell is getting close and should be in contention for Bristol too.

“Tom Wood is a couple of months away, but James Collins is now back after a lengthy spell out with a quad problem.

“He won’t figure on Saturday because he’s hardly had any contact training for a number of months, but from next weekend on he should be ok.

“Marcel Garvey is off his crutches, which is a little bit of good news, but he’s still 10 weeks away according to my medical staff.”