Huw you gonna call? Not Jones for a while yet
GLASGOW have been dealt a blow with the news that Huw Jones is out for the foreseeable future.
The Scotland centre picked up a finger injury in the defeat to Ireland last weekend – with his pregnant wife, annabel, posing a photo on social media of Jones with his arm in a sling.
Warriors head coach Franco Smith confirmed the player won’t be available for tonight’s home URC clash against Cardiff and will then be assessed on a weekly basis.
The South african said: “We’re not sure how long Huw will be out for yet. It’s something that can heal more rapidly than one thinks but he won’t be available for the foreseeable future.
“He got injured during the match against Ireland, just before half-time apparently.
“It’s his ring finger on his right hand.
“It’s always difficult to gauge how long he’ll be out for as it’s a different injury from an arm or a leg. We’ll just have to take it week by week.”
With fellow centre Sione Tuipulotu also out injured until June, it leaves Glasgow without two of their key performers for the crunch part of the campaign.
But Smith has backed Tom Jordan and Scotland star Stafford McDowall to thrive in their absence.
He said: “Tom has been playing well for us in the last few weeks there and he’s always been an option.
“He’s been contributing as always so hopefully he gets another good game under his belt this week.
“Stafford playing for Scotland last week was a good reward and well deserved after being man of the match in the two games that we played during the Six Nations.
“He’s been knocking on the door for a while. He will want to continue his growth.
“The man that he is, it will all be about contributing to the team rather than being about him personally. He is eager to keep doing that and that was the message he gave us this week.”
Kyle Steyn and Jack Dempsey are both thrown straight into club action after their Six Nations endeavours – with Matt Fagerson and George Horne also in the matchday squad.
Young centre Duncan Munn could make his debut off the bench.
Smith added: “Jack, Kyle and Stafford are the three guys that started for Scotland last weekend and it was important for us over the next few weeks to blend our boys back in so we have almost everyone available for selection for the Champions Cup tie coming up.
“It’s good to have the first bunch of boys back in.”