The injury bug hasn't left Hurricanes back Nehe Milner-Skudder as his struggles to recover from his latest setback have hit a roadblock, leaving his hopes of an All Blacks return against the British & Irish Lions in doubt.
After a breakthrough year in 2015 which included a World Cup win with the All Blacks and a starring role in a Hurricanes side which hosted the Super Rugby final, Milner-Skudder has hardly touched the ball since, sitting out 2016 with a shoulder injury and then breaking a bone in his foot last month against the Chiefs.
Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd has told NZME that Milner-Skudder's slow recovery could jeopardize his hopes of an All Blacks return in June.
"I don't think he would have played an awful amount of rugby, before they pick the All Blacks to play the British and Irish Lions," Boyd said.
"Whether that's the preparation that the All Blacks want for that, it depends what sort of back three they're looking for and who else is fit, because there have been a couple of dings in that space.
"I think [Milner-Skudder] will be available, but he won't have played a whole lot of rugby."
Milner-Skudder is tentatively scheduled to return in three weeks against Stormers on May 5, but Boyd said that timeframe may have been a bit ambitious.
"The solidification of the bone in his foot is slow, it's a low blood-flow area, so it's slow.
"It's one of those ones that he's worked incredibly hard to keep fit and strong and healthy in other ways, but he's got a wound that's not helping him at the moment."
The All Blacks side for the Lions series is set to be named in the first week of June, leaving Milner-Skudder, at best, five games to prove his form and fitness.
Newshub.
