‘Hugely frustrated’... Lydiate counting cost as injury curse strikes

DAN Lydiate is having to come to terms with the ‘huge frustration’ of being ruled out for the season after he’d looked set to play a vital role for Wales in the Six Nations this winter.

A bicep injury, which will require an operation, sustained during the Ospreys’ clash with the Dragons on New Year’s Day, has put paid to his hopes of finally putting four injury-interrupted seasons behind him.

And, with Wales currently in the grip of an injury crisis with up to 20 Six Nations candidates currently crocked, a fit-and-firing Lydiate would have been a huge asset for coach Warren Gatland.

“It is obviously extremely disappointing for Dan, he has been in a rich vein of form for us,” said Ospreys forwards coach Allen Clarke.

“I have had a conversation with Dan and he is hugely frustrated, there is no doubt about that.

“But if there is any light at the end of the tunnel it is the fact it is a different part of the body, it is not a knee that is a recurring injury or an area of the back.

“It is a traumatic injury, it is not a condition as such, it is something that is repairable and he can come back stronger.

“For us and for Dan, it is hugely frustrating, as I say, but you have to have that positive mentality.

“You look at players nowadays and they are playing until 34, 35. I suppose it is about how many miles are on the clock.

“There aren’t a huge amount of miles in terms of playing time with Dan, so hopefully he will get that at the back end of his career because he is a fantastic individual, fantastic person and a pretty decent rugby player as well and we want him back and fit and healthy as soon as possible.”

Lydiate’s absence makes the Ospreys’ task against Saracens in what is a potential Euro eliminator even tougher and Clarke acknowledges it is going to take a ‘near complete’ display if they are to send the defending champions careering out of the tournament.

“It looks like they are coming back to close to full strength, but where we are in the pool makes it a really enticing fixture for us,” said the Ulsterman, who coached alongside Sarries director of rugby Mark McCall in Belfast.

“We are fully aware of the level of performance that will be required to get the result.

“But I suppose if you looked at when the groupings came out, not many people would have thought with two games to go we would have a chance of qualifying.

“That is the reality of this Saturday, we have a fixture against the current European champions. We are making good strides, there is a belief in the group, but we know it is going to take to as close to a complete performance as we can deliver.”

Meanwhile, there is more positive news on centre Owen Watkin, who suffered a neck injury in the Ospreys’ Guinness PRO14 win over Cardiff Blues on Saturday.

The 21-year-old was taken to hospital for scans, but there was “no structural damage” found.

He is currently been treated for soft tissue damage and could be back in action over the next fortnight. Back-rower James King is also continuing his recovery from a shoulder issue and is targeting a return at the end of the month.