Bath look set to be without Springbok forward Dan du Preez for the rest of the month, with the new recruit suffering a hamstring injury.
The 31-year-old back-rower, who joined the Blue, Black and Whites from Sale Sharks this season, did not feature in their Investec Champions Cup defeat to Montpellier this weekend, after suffering the knock in training.
Since his move to the West Country, Du Preez has made two appearances for Bath, scoring two tries in that time.
Bath issue extended injury update ahead of Gloucester showdown
“Dan du Preez sustained a hamstring injury in training ahead of the Montpellier fixture and will miss the next two PREM matches,” the club said in a statement.
He is not the only concern Bath have in the back-row, either, with Sam Underhill still on the sidelines until December following bicep surgery. Elsewhere, fellow forward Billy Sela is expected to be out until late November due to a foot injury, while off-season recruit Jamie Bhatti is scheduled to return in the New Year after undergoing forearm surgery.
However, that blow should be eased somewhat by the potential return of Miles Reid, who is available for selection for their upcoming West Country derby clash with Gloucester after passing his return-to-play protocols. Reid suffered the knock in their 71-48 defeat to Northampton Saints in their previous PREM fixture before the EPCR block.
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Elsewhere, England hopefuls Will Muir, Henry Arundell and Tom de Glanville are starting to edge towards a comeback after missing some of the early rounds of the new season, but there is still no concrete return date for the trio.
“Will Muir, Henry Arundell and Tom de Glanville have resumed elements of training, with their availability assessed on a week-by-week basis,” the club detailed.
One-cap England winger Muir has been out of action following shoulder surgery last season, while Arundell has missed the start of the campaign with a back issue and de Glanville missed their trip to the DPD Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens and the home defeat to Montpellier with a lower limb concern.
Thompson Cowan is also nearing a return to the field, with the forward expected to be fit during November’s PREM Rugby Cup block.
Bath head into this weekend’s derby clash fifth in the PREM table on points difference, but a win could see them leapfrog their bitter rivals at the summit.