Scans and X-rays have confirmed no serious damage for Falcons flanker Tim Swinson, after the injury which forced him from the field during Thursday's European Challenge Cup defeat at Brive.
There was a lengthy stoppage during play as Swinson sustained a head injury in the act of tackling Brive wing Ben Cohen, but he returned to the team hotel on Thursday night after a hospital visit confirmed no major problems.
Director of rugby, Steve Bates, said: "Tim is up and about, he is alert and thankfully nothing too untoward showed up on the scans.
"It's fair to say he has a very sore head, but the medical team will monitor him closely over the coming days and look to integrate him back in to training at the appropriate time."
Turning to the game itself, with the Falcons and Brive scoring three tries each as the French side won out 36-22, Bates said: "It was a disappointing evening in many ways.
"The frustrating thing is that most of Brive's points came as a result of us conceding penalties or turnovers. At half time we were still in it, but we let the game slip away and conceded some sloppy scores.
"What it means is that the group is now wide open, with Brive, ourselves and Parma all having won one game. It is still there for the taking, the task now is to win our remaining four games and give ourselves the best chance possible of a home quarter-final."
