Magners League
Ospreys No.8 Jones set for four-week layoff
Scrum.com
August 25, 2010
Ospreys captain Ryan Jones warms up, Leicester Tigers v Ospreys, Heineken Cup, Welford Road, Leicester, England, October 11, 2009
Ryan Jones is set to miss the start of the season © Getty Images
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Ospreys No.8 Ryan Jones is set to be out of action for three to four weeks due to a knee injury picked up on Wales' summer tour to New Zealand.

Jones limped from the field in his side's 29-10 second Test loss to the All Blacks in June, with Ospreys physio Chris Towers confirming that the injury was more serious than originally feared.

This week Jones saw the regional captaincy pass to Wales team-mate Alun-Wyn Jones and his focus will now be on regaining his No.8 jersey prior to the Ospreys' Heineken Cup opener against Toulon on October 9. Their Magners League season gets underway on September 3 against Ulster at Ravenhill.

"Ryan left the field injured in the second Test and after undergoing a scan on his return from New Zealand, the injury was expected to settle without complication over the summer," Towers said. "However, when he reported back to the Ospreys, our concerns regards the symptoms led us to refer him to a specialist who confirmed that the injury was of greater significance than originally thought, and that the reason he wasn't recovering as expected was due to bone bruising associated with the trauma in New Zealand.

"He has responded well to treatment since then and, symptomatically, his condition is much better. It's difficult to say categorically when he'll be available, but if his improvement continues as it has been then we will hopefully see him up and running again within the next three to four weeks."

Scrum-half Mike Phillips is also struggling with a knee injury picked up on international duty but is expected to be fit for the start of the season given proper management of the problem.

"In Mike's case, he developed swelling on the knee in training ahead of the first Test in New Zealand," Towers said. "While the problem didn't prevent him from playing in both Tests, his ability to train fully on tour was restricted. After the tour he was allowed to go on leave without further investigation, only for the condition to flare up again when he reported back for WRU testing at the start of August.

"On his return to the Ospreys we had his condition evaluated more closely, and there was evidence of some wear and tear on the knee that accounted for the swelling. He's been looked at by specialists in south Wales and London, and they are happy that the knee can be carefully managed and, while he will follow a restricted training programme, he will be available for selection once his pre-season is complete."

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