NETANI Talei is facing four months on the sidelines after having surgery on his left shoulder.

The Worcester Warriors number eight injured his left knee and shoulder in the LV Cup victory over Newcastle Falcons on November 7.

The knee ligament damage was already expected to keep the big Fijian out of action for at least a month, but following a scan on his shoulder, Talei went under the knife on Monday.

“He could be out for three to four months,” Warriors director of rugby Mike Ruddock said. “That is a significant blow to him personally and to the team.

“There was some damage to the joint that needed to be repaired and stabilised and I’m told that the operation went well.”

With the 26-year-old expected to be out until around mid-February, Ruddock has at least been boosted by Kai Horstmann’s return to full contact training.

The 28-year-old has been missing since the end of September with a rib injury and is likely to slot back into the starting XV for Friday night’s Guinness Premiership clash with Bath at Sixways (8pm).

“It will be difficult for him to come straight back in because he hasn’t played for quite a while,” Ruddock admitted. “If he passes the fitness test he will be coming in without any rugby since the end of September.

“But he did that at Northampton after pre-season. He didn’t play any of the friendlies and produced a man-of-the-match performance, culminating with a fine try. It will be excellent to have him back, Kai is a great leader for us.

“He is one these guys that week in, week out you know he is going to do the right thing at the right times.

“He can help steer the ship with his leadership qualities and he is someone the other guys look to.”

Ruddock also revealed that 21-year-old fly-half George Crook is out for a month after suffering a stress fracture to his shin in the 32-17 defeat to Scarlets in the LV Cup last weekend.