Problems for Ulster as Ward sidelined by ankle problem

ULSTER’S inspirational skipper Andy Ward could be out of action until Christmas due to an ankle problem.

Ward goes into hospital on Monday to have a small spur that has been causing him discomfort for over a month removed from an ankle.

Ward is due to miss his second consecutive Celtic League tie with the injury and was not considered for tomorrow’s tie at St Helen’s against Swansea.

The bitter blow to coach Alan Solomons comes hard on the heels of the sudden retirement of Springbok flanker Robbie Brink due to a shoulder problem.

Ward learned yesterday that the only cure for his problem was surgery.

“I’m due to have a little piece of bone shaved off from the top of the ankle on Monday morning,” he said. “Better now than later. I’m hobbling about now and there was no sign of the problem getting better.

“I just thought it would be better to get the job done now, rather than letting the side down by being not 100% right.

“I’m hoping that I will be back by Christmas.

“Obviously I will miss the remainder of the Celtic League pool games and possibly two Heineken Cup ties which is very disappointing.

“But if everything goes to plan and we qualify, I should be 100% fit for the Celtic League pay-offs and the remainder of the European games,” he said.

Ulster coach Solomons will have to think long and hard about back row cover as the deadline for the European Cup approaches.

He is due to hand in his squad of 30 to the organisers by September 20.

Solomons, who also has the worry of Jeremy Davidson’s fitness for action, is likely to consider three options with Neil Best, Roger Wilson and Michael Haslett’s names in the frame.

Solomons has asked Paddy Johns to come out of retirement again to put on standby for this weekend.

However it is unlikely that the former international skipper will want to put his name forward for the Heineken Cup as he is now busy as a community dentist in north Belfast.

Meanwhile, the Ulster Juniors side to face Leinster tomorrow at Ashbourne has been named.

Ulster Juniors: A McKinney, J Moore, M McDowell, A Redpath, A Breen, J McMurray,

R Armstrong, A McCaffrey, W McClean, T Moore, D McCrea, G Crawford, J cDowell, W Logan, D Lyttle.