Aviva Premiership
Tigers struck by Staunton injury
ESPNscrum Staff
September 28, 2010
Leicester's Jeremy Staunton is tackled by Worcester's Tevita Taumoepeau , Leicester Tigers v Worcester Warriors, Guinness Premiership, Welford Road, Leicester, England, October 3, 2009
Jeremy Staunton has been ruled out for up to 12 weeks © Getty Images
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Leicester Tigers could bring in a fly-half on a short-term deal following an injury blow to Jeremy Staunton.

The former Wasps playmaker will miss the next 12 weeks of action with a small tear to his Achilles tendon, an injury that forced his withdrawal from last weekend's comfortable Premiership win over Leeds. England's Toby Flood is already sidelined after picking up a knee injury in their first-round loss to Northampton.

"Staunton went to see a specialist and we have discovered there is a tear in his Achilles and he will be out for anywhere up to 12 weeks," head coach Richard Cockerill told The Leicester Mercury. "Our injury rate is not great but we have a good squad and a great spirit and you saw that against Leeds."

Youngster Billy Twelvetrees covered at fly-half following Staunton's exit from the squad to face Leeds but Cockerill is reluctant to place too much pressure on his shoulders.

"There is a lot of chat about how good Billy is but I want to protect him from all that because he has a lot of pressure on his plate," he said. "You have to be careful with young players and I want him to learn the game and not be under the spotlight.

"I will try to manage that as well as I can but you guys [the press] will dictate that to a point. We have to make sure that the detail of his game is right all of the time. Against Leeds, he did some fantastic things but we have to work on his kicking and the accuracy of his pass. If we can keep the expectation measured and realistic, that would be better for the lad."

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