TINDALL OUT FOR EIGHT WEEKS

Mike visited a leading foot specialist in London last night who confirmed that he would not require surgery to fix the problem. "The bone is stable, which is good news," said Bath Rugby's Head of Physical Preparation Chris Mallac late last night.

"Tins will have his right foot in a boot for a month," he also confirmed. "When the boot is taken off it should take around three to four weeks before he is back to full fitness."

The news means that Mike will definitely miss Bath Rugby's next eight Heineken Cup, Zurich Premiership and Powergen Cup matches with a return scheduled for the second week in February. He will also almost certainly miss England's opening RBS Six Nations fixture against Wales at the Millennium Stadium on February 5th.

Mike also saw a shoulder specialist in London earlier in the day to asses the state of the Labrum injury that has been troubling him for some time. "The specialist was quietly confident that the injury would settle down," said Mallac. "The shoulder is relatively pain free for Mike at the moment and he can play on with it. However, some point down the line he could have an operation on it."

So severe are Bath Rugby's injury problems that they are unlikely to be able to field a full complement of seven replacements for tomorrow's Heineken Cup match against Treviso at the Rec (2.15pm). England international prop David Flatman (Achilles) heads a list of 13 players who are currently sidelined with Robbie Fleck (calf), Chris Loader (ankle), Zak Feaunati (fractured eye socket), Danny Grewcock (back), Rob Hawkins (shoulder), Mike Tindall (shoulder and foot), Matt Perry (hamstring), Joe Maddock (hamstring), Martyn Wood (hamstring), Lee Best (groin), Jonathan Humphreys (heel) and Gareth Delve (foot) making up the other injured players. Prop Heinrich Kok and Winger Frikkie Welsh are not registered for the Heineken Cup as they signed after the registration deadline.