Wales captain Jack Morgan was injured for the Six Nations after the Ospreys admitted he will likely need knee surgery.

The flanker missed the Ospreys’ Challenge Cup defeat to Montpellier and will also miss the United Rugby Championship derby against the Scarlets on December 26.

A timetable for the 23-year-old’s return has not yet been set, but Warren Gatland will announce his call-up in mid-January, ahead of the opening match against Scotland on February 3.

“He will likely have surgery to repair the injury,” Ospreys coach Toby Booth said.

“We will know a little more about this in the coming days. If there is a repair, it will likely be long-term, but these things can be difficult to predict until we know the nature.

“I haven’t received the details yet, it’s been in the press for 24 hours. We know a little more about what we’re facing, but until people come forward with an action plan that our medical team is doing now, we won’t know the exact answer.

“We will know more about this after I talk to the medical team, who will talk to the surgeon to find out if (the surgery) will be performed.

“It’s a blow for Jack after the year he’s had, but it’s an opportunity for others. “We have good players and they will have the opportunity to show what they can do.”

Gatland also has other injury problems in the back row, with Cardiff number 8 Taulupe Faletau still to recover from a broken arm he suffered against Georgia in the World Cup, while Exeter’s Christ Tshiunza and Thane Plumtree , from Scarlets, are also out. . The latter is expected to miss the Six Nations after shoulder surgery.