Jamie Roberts faces six months on the sidelines © Getty Images

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News: Roberts on course for early season return

Players/Officials: Jamie Roberts

Tournaments/Tours: Heineken Cup | RaboDirect PRO12

Teams: Cardiff Blues | Wales

Wales and Cardiff Blues centre Jamie Roberts faces six months on the sidelines with a medial knee ligament injury, according to reports.

With Gavin Henson having just departed from the Blues and Roberts now out of action, Dafydd Hewitt or Gavin Evans are the hot favourites to take on the inside berth for the Blues in the Heineken Cup quarter-final clash with Leinster this weekend.

But for Roberts, the news means that not only will he miss the rest of the season but also Wales' tour to Australia this summer. Roberts has endured a campaign ridden with injury but he is hopeful that he can come back stronger from his recent setback.

"I originally injured my knee in Paris playing against Racing Metro after returning from the World Cup," Roberts said. "With the fantastic help from the medical staff at the Blues and Welsh Rugby Union, I was able to rehab my knee well enough to get me through a handful of games for the Blues and the successful Grand Slam Six Nations campaign with Wales.

"However, following my injury in the match against Glasgow on Friday night I've been advised by the knee surgeon that my knee is now not stable enough to continue playing and potentially risk further injury to the knee.

"The decision has been made for me to have an operation on the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) later this week. It will mean a minimum of roughly six months away from the playing field.

"I suppose it's a chance for me to get my body fully right for what is a huge season for both club and country, with a certain carrot at the end of it too."

Roberts commented on the injury on his Twitter account saying:

So news on the knee isn't great.....ACL reconstruction Thursday afternoon...have to bite the bullet and get it done..knee was too unstable

— Jamie Roberts (@Jamiehuwroberts) April 3, 2012