BENNETT BRACED FOR MONTHS ON THE SIDELINES

EDINBURGH centre Mark Bennett looks set to be ruled out until the New Year with a suspected ruptured hamstring after his injury curse struck again. It is a blow for both club and country, with the Scotland international having impressed in a fledgling partnership with Matt Scott before he went off injured during last Friday’s defeat to Ulster. The 25-year-old missed a large part of last season and now looks likely to miss the autumn Internationals, with Edinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill forced to rejig his back line after just two Pro14 matches. Bennett had a scan on his injury at an Edinburgh hospital yesterday afternoon and the results will provide a more accurate timescale for his return. ‘We will know the extent of Mark’s injury from the scan but clearly it is something quite significant,’ said Cockerill. ‘I feel very sorry for Mark because he missed half of last season through injury and now he is probably going to miss a big chunk of this year, too. He is on crutches. At the moment we think, although it is yet to be confirmed, that he has ruptured his hamstring at the very top. ‘If it is completely ruptured it is a serious injury. ‘That is a real shame and bad luck for Mark as I thought his partnership with Matt Scott in the centre was starting to develop. That was the best they have played together against Ulster last weekend. ‘Matt was good the previous week, too, against Scarlets but was really outstanding in Belfast. His ball carrying and defence were very, very good and solid. ‘He made some good line breaks and he has shown some really good form. Mark was working well off him and had some good involvements in that first 20 minutes before he got injured. ‘Unfortunately, it is going to be now probably three or four months before we see it again as Mark is expected to be out injured till then. ‘People recover from hamstring issues as severe as this one is. Hopefully he will be fit for the New Year, give or take, but we will have to wait and see.’