Ospreys new scrum-half Jamie Nutbrown will miss the Welsh region's Heineken Cup opening rounds after being ruled out with a foot injury.
The former Waikato Chiefs and Canterbury Crusaders player suffered an injury to his "midtarsal joint" during last weekend's Magners League clash with Glasgow Warriors.
The 27-year-old New-Zealander arrived in Wales in early September and has signed a two year deal with the 2008 Heineken Cup quarter-finalists.
Nutbrown, who won the Super 12 with the Canterbury Crusaders comes to Ospreys as cover for at scrum half for injured Mike Philipps after the departure of Justin Marshall.
According the Ospreys physio Chris Towers, Nutbrown needs to spend the next four weeks in plaster and will require a period of strengthening and rehabilitation for at least another four weeks.
The Ospreys must plan without Nutbrown for at least the first two Heineken Cup rounds when they travel to Leicester Tigers and welcome Perpignan in Round 2.
