Gloucester's Alex Brown to undergo shoulder surgery

Brown has played 220 games for Gloucester

Gloucester lock Alex Brown is set to be sidelined for a further 10 weeks with a shoulder ligament problem.

The 32-year-old has already been out for a month after suffering the injury in their defeat by Northampton on the opening day of the Premiership season.

And head coach Bryan Redpath confirmed after Saturday's 58-27 LV= Cup victory over Sale that Brown will now have to undergo surgery.

"It is tragic for us but that's just life," he told BBC Gloucestershire.

"We just have to get on with it. We've dealt with it over the past six weeks and I'm sure we will for the next six."

Meanwhile, Redpath was quick to praise youngster Tom Savage who has come into the side as cover for Brown.

"I'm delighted for Tom - he's improved every single week," he added.

"He's a different player from Alex - he's not a line-out caller but he'll put pressure on Jim [Hamilton] and Will James. And that's what we've got to see it as, how much pressure can we put each other under."