Faf de Klerk is set to miss the majority of the Premiership season after Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson confirmed his scrum-half faces up to five months out following hip surgery.
De Klerk has yet to make an appearance for Sale so far this term due to his commitments with South Africa, and a return doesn't appear likely until February 2022 at the earliest.
The 30-year-old started the first two Tests for the Springboks as they beat the British and Irish Lions 2-1 in a series this summer, returning to play the final four rounds of the more recent Rugby Championship.
But it appears De Klerk aggravated the hip flexor injury during appearances against Australia and New Zealand, and Sanderson was frustrated to lose such a valued member of his squad for the foreseeable future.
“Faf has seen the very best person when it comes to these injuries. There was no choice, it needed an operation," Sanderson told reporters ahead of Sale's visit to Premiership leaders Leicester on Saturday.
"We’re hoping it might be less than five months – maybe around four months, but we’ll see. I’m not happy about it but what can you do. We have to stay cheerful.
“Faf is a very positive lad. He’s brought his girlfriend back over from South Africa to look after him which is massive for him personally. If anyone is going to come back from an injury like this as strong and as motivated, then it’s him.
“Our S+C (strength and conditioning) guys are very experienced, and they’ll get the best advice too. Marland Yarde has had the same surgery and he’s now playing as well as he ever has. Injuries are part of the game."
De Klerk has earned 36 caps for South Africa and was a key part of the team that defeated England 32-12 to lift the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
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Sale are blessed to have 20-year-old Raffi Quirke as a back-up, although the prospect will soon be unavailable himself after receiving a call-up to Eddie Jones' England squad for the autumn internationals.
The club's other senior scrum-half, 33-year-old Will Cliff, is currently recovering from injury.
That could threaten to leave a void in the No. 9 jersey, although Sanderson added the Sharks wouldn't be looking for short-term cover, praising youngsters Gus Warr (22) and Nye Thomas (18) as potential options.
"We're not looking at any short-term solutions at the moment," he said.
"I've got huge faith in the lads we've got. It might be blind faith because they're unproven at the top level. Right now, they need my backing and they've got it."
Sale sit middle of the Premiership table ahead of Saturday's visit to Welford Road, where they'll hope to hand the Tigers their first defeat of the campaign.
Sanderson has named Warr his scrum-half against Leicester in what will be a rare start, with teenager Thomas providing set to provide cover from the bench.
