Scotland star Nikki Walker looks set to miss the 2009 RBS 6 Nations with the hamstring injury he sustained earlier this month.
Walker would have been a serious contender for one of the wing positions after scoring a hat-trick of tries in Scotland’s last Test, against Canada at Pittodrie.
But the injury he suffered while playing for the Ospreys against Treviso in the European Cup appears certain to keep him out of the RBS 6 Nations.
The Aberdeen-born winger had scored two tries against the Italians before limping off at half-time to be replaced by Shane Williams as the Ospreys cruised to victory 68-8.
He has undergone surgery to repair a partial tear of his left hamstring and now faces an extensive period of recuperation.
With Rory Lamont already ruled out of the tournament, Scotland coach Frank Hadden is fortunate he now has plenty of depth in the wing position.
Thom and Max Evans, Sean Lamont and Simon Webster will fight it out for the No. 11 and 14 shirts with Chris Paterson and Hugo Southwell battling it out for the full-back berth.
