Hurricanes fullback Nehe Milner-Skudder will be out of action for at least six weeks with a fractured foot.
The injury was suffered midway through the second half of his side's loss to the Chiefs, and while it'll need a lengthy rest, it won't require surgery.
"It’s disappointing, but these things happen in rugby," Milner-Skudder said.
"All I can do is focus on the rehab and making sure I do everything right to get back on the field. The encouraging thing is the medical staff don't believe there will be any long term issues. It was just a freak accident."
The setback is just the latest in a string of ailments for the All Blacks winger, who returns this season after missing almost the entire 2016 Super Rugby and international campaign due to a shoulder injury.
Coach Chris Boyd was reluctant to commit to a precise return date for the 26-year-old.
"That all depends on how quickly he heals, so it’s just speculation at this point, but the sooner the better," noted Boyd.
The apparent best-case scenario of a six-week return would give him approximately four weeks of rugby before the All Blacks' opening Test against the Lions on June 24th.
Newshub.
