Kurtley Beale's patella tendon injury is "not catastrophic" for English club Wasps, according to rugby director Dai Young.
Australia utility back Beale will join Wasps for next season on a one-year deal, but will miss four to six months with a knee injury suffered immediately after completing terms on his move to England.
The livewire Waratahs star could miss a hefty chunk of his first campaign in the Aviva Premiership, but rugby director Young has vowed Wasps will stand by their man.
"The first thing to say is our thoughts go out to Kurtley. You never want to see a player being injured," Young said of Beale, who has the option to extend his Wasps deal into a second year in due course.
"So that was our first concern, making sure he's okay.
"He's not our player yet so we have got limited information of where he is.
"But the information that we have got, it is pretty much that it's four to six months.
"It's obviously not ideal but it's not catastrophic for us, which means hopefully he'll be playing for us in September.
"If he's not right in September and it's a little bit longer, then it's a little bit longer, because we certainly won't rush him.
"Thankfully it's not as bad as it was first reported.
"We're still waiting for the full medical report but there's no reason to suggest any different from what we've all been told.
"And it's part and parcel of professional sport. Players do get injured and we're always going to support them and work with them to get back sooner rather than later," Young said.
