Josh Turnbull injury blow for Scarlets

Josh Turnbull has won three Wales caps since his debut against Scotland in 2011

The Scarlets have suffered a blow as Wales back row forward Josh Turnbull has been ruled out until Christmas after undergoing shoulder surgery.

The 23-year-old, who was on World Cup standby should Wales suffer a back-row injury crisis, missed Scarlets' 15-10 defeat to Leinster on Saturday.

But Scarlets coach Nigel Davies insists flanker Turnbull has been playing with the shoulder problem for the past year.

"It has got to the stage where he needs an operation," said Davies.

"There is a high risk that if he carried on playing and gets a bump, he could completely dislocate his shoulder which would be a longer-term problem.

"So we are going to get the operation done.

"It will be a strengthening of his shoulder joint, it will see him out for about three months."