Barkley faces wrist op

England centre faces race against time to be fit for new campaign

Last updated: 1st July 2008

Olly Barkley just chillin

Barkley: Injury setback

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Olly Barkley is set to go under the knife in the hope of recovering from his broken wrist in time to start the season with new club Gloucester.

The England inside centre is expected to be out of action for a further eight weeks after suffering the injury in the second Test of England's cheerless tour to New Zealand.

Barkley, who has yet to play a game for Gloucester after his summer move from Bath, will have an operation on his fractured left wrist on Friday, the English Rugby Football Union said in a statement.

The 26-year-old, who came on as a first-half replacement in the Christchurch clash, has been named in new England team manager Martin Johnson's 32-strong Elite Player Squad.

Gloucester coach Dean Ryan is still hoping Barkley will recover from surgery in time to begin next season with his new club.

"Olly requires this surgery now to give him the best possible chance of being fit for the start of the 2008-09 Guinness Premiership season," Ryan explained.

"He is a tremendous talent and a great asset for the club, so we need to get the injury cleared up as soon as possible."