Injuries mount for Wasps

12:07pm Monday 1st December 2008

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WASPS are waiting on the fitness of three forwards as they prepare for a Heineken Cup showdown in Edinburgh on Friday evening.

Simon Shaw, Joe Worsely and Pat Barnard are all doubtful, although Barnard’s injury is not as serious as it first appeared.

The South African prop was at the bottom of a tangle of bodies two minutes into the second half of Wasps’ win at Newcastle on Friday evening.

When play moved on Barnard did not and the Wasps medical team rushed on to treat him where he lay.

The game was held up for seven minutes before he was stretched off,unmoving, in a brace.

It was later reported that he was able to move his arms and legs and x-rays and CT scans revealed no bone injury in his neck.

The Wasps medical team will continue to observe Barnard this week.

It’s the second match in a row that he has come off with a neck injury. Against Sale the previous week he was driven head first into the ground and suffered neck and shoulder spasms before being passed fit to play again.

Meanwhile, Worsley limped out the Newcastle match with an ankle injury while Shaw was withdrawn from the squad after failing to shake off a bang to his leg picked up while playing for England.

Joe Ward has resumed light training after injuring his pectoralis muscle but is not ready to play, while Raf Ibanez is still recovering from concussion and a hamstring injury.

Tom Palmer (calf) is also on the casualty list, although Phil Vickery and Tim Payne are available again after returning from England duty.