Sean O'Brien gets to know Ali Williams © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Sean O'Brien

Tournaments/Tours: Six Nations

Teams: Ireland

Ireland flanker Sean O'Brien is facing four months out after being forced to undergo surgery on his hip.

O'Brien started all three of Ireland's Tests in New Zealand and shone for Leinster on their route to Heineken Cup glory last term. But he is now a doubt for Ireland's autumn Tests and looks set to miss the first two rounds of next season's Heineken Cup.

Irish team manager Mick Kearney said he was not sure how long the flanker had been suffering from the injury for but he will now go under the knife.

"He is going having some keyhole surgery on his hip to repair some cartilage damage," Kearney told the Irish Examiner. "Surgery is imminent, it's going to happen within the next week or so and the recovery period for this type of operation is 13 to 15 weeks. It means it could be up to four months.

"Obviously it's going to make him doubtful for the November series."

Kearney is confident that the flanker will make a full recovery from the injury. Munster's Denis Leamy was forced to retire from the game back in May due to a hip injury and Leinster's resources in that department will be stretched with both Dave Kearney and Rhys Ruddock also facing the surgeon's knife.