'We're very sad for Robbie' - Dowson delivers update on injured Saints ace Smith
Saints boss Phil Dowson has confirmed that Robbie Smith will be ‘out for a considerable amount of time’ after suffering a serious knee injury in the win against Sale Sharks last Friday.
Smith was stretchered off after just five minutes, bringing Curtis Langdon into the action for the remainder of the game.
And now it seems Saints will be without the Scotland hooker for several months.
“It's a very serious knee injury so he'll be out for a considerable amount of time, which will include surgery,” Dowson said. "We're very frustrated for him.
"(Scotland boss) Gregor (Townsend) was here to watch him and Elliot (Millar Mills), he'd earned the opportunity to start because he'd been good coming off the bench.
"He didn't play as much as he’d have liked last season and coming into this one he was full of it after his excellent displays on the Scotland tour.
"We're very sad for Robbie.
"This is part of the journey. It's a really crap part but at the same time, we'll look after him, we'll support him and make sure when he gets back we'll celebrate that journey and make sure he's flying around.”
So what are Saints’ options at hooker now?
"We've got Nathan Langdon, Craig Wright and obviously Curt (Langdon) so we've got guys who are desperate to play in that space,” Dowson said.
"Obviously Craig had a great spell with the England Under-20s, Nathan's been playing well in the Championship with Bedford and he's shown what he's capable of.
"It's going to be an interesting opportunity for those guys.”