Sale prop Eifion Lewis-Roberts could be out for the season © Getty Images

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Sale Sharks are facing up to the possibility of losing Welsh prop Eifion Lewis-Roberts for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

Sharks head coach Mike Brewer has confirmed that the loose-head suffered an injury to his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in last Friday's 21-17 win over Harlequins at Edgeley Park and is looking at a long spell on the sidelines.

"Eifion is not looking good and it looks like he might be out for the season," he told the Manchester Evening News. "He's done his ACL. We'll get the swelling down over the next two to three weeks and then he'll need a knee reconstruction.

"In terms of how long he will be out, it will be certainly long term - until the end of March at least. Unfortunately, that's what happens. We've been pretty lucky so far in terms of avoiding major injuries."

The injury is not a timely one for the one-cap Wales international, who now has no chance of playing his way to a recall prior to their November internationals.

The club is seeking salary cap dispensation in order to bring in a replacement front-rower, with Lewis-Roberts having recently put pen to paper on a three-year deal. Brewer will extend his search to the southern hemisphere, but has concerns over the quality of available props in both the Currie Cup and ITM Cup.

"We are already in the process of applying for salary dispensation. We'll do that and then look to bring in another player as a replacement for Eifion," he said. "In terms of possibilities, Super 14 guys don't really affect things as they all go back in for training in December. That's not really an option.

"Ideally, what you are looking is guys who are Currie Cup players or guys in New Zealand who haven't got Super 15 contracts. In all honesty though most of them are not up to the level we are looking for. It's tough at the moment so it's more than likely it will be someone who wants to leave New Zealand or South Africa and come over here full-time or alternatively, someone playing in the Championship."