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Injury blow

Thumb wars: Ligament damage to sideline Muller for 8 weeks

The Ulster captain injured his thumb in Friday’s Heineken Cup win over Glasgow.

ULSTER CAPTAIN JOHANN Muller could miss Ulster’s crucial back-to-back Heineken Cup meeting against Northampton this December.

The Springbok second row suffered ligament damage in his thumb during Friday’s dogged 19-8 win away to Glasgow Warriors.

Following yesterday’s scan he today underwent surgery on the damaged area and a statement on the club’s website says he is expected to miss the next eight weeks of action.

Ulster currently lead the Rabodirect Pro12 with five wins from five. They also lead pool four of the Heineken Cup with two wins from two taking their winning streak to seven. Last year’s runners-up will travel to meet second-place finishers from 2011 on December 7 – under seven weeks from today.

Muller, capped 50 times by ulster and 26 times by South Africa, has been central to the northern province’s unbeaten start to the season.

Among the Pro12 fixtures he may miss are trips to Llanelli, both Italian clubs and a repeat of last season’s Heineken Cup semi-final against Edinburgh at Ravenhill.

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