SAINTS have been dealt a big injury blow by the news full-back Ben Foden will be out for a number of weeks after suffering major ankle ligament damage.
Foden was clattered by winger Tom Biggs in Saints’ 18-14 win at Bath last Friday night and left The Recreation Ground on crutches, with his foot in a surgical boot.
After the game, Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder claimed that was just a precaution and he was ‘hopeful it is just a strain’.
And Foden tweeted: “Ankle is very sore and swollen this morning but hopefully not as bad as feared maybe just a bad roll! Physio at 12 to be sure.#rubberbones”
But at the club’s AGM on Monday night, Mallinder revealed Foden had suffered ‘major ligament damage’ and would be out for ‘a number of weeks’.
Foden is likely to now miss crucial Premiership and Heineken Cup games, with his participation in England’s autumn internationals, which start on November 10, also in doubt.
The 27-year-old will see a specialist on Wednesday, who will further assess the damage.