This is not the news that Joe Schmidt would have wanted to wake up to this morning.
Leinster outhalf Joey Carbery is a major doubt for the start of Ireland's Six Nations campaign, with Ireland due to play Scotland at Murray field on February 4.
The 21-year-old suffered an ankle injury in Leinster's 37-10 victory over the Northampton Saints in the Champions Cup.
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Carbery was replaced by Ross Byrne after just 15 minutes of the encounter last Friday, and was expected to miss the return fixture with the Saints.
It had been hoped that, after meeting a specialist this week, the prognosis on the injury would be positive.
However, it now seems that Carbery will have to undergo surgery to repair the damage he received to his ankle.
Carbery is expected to be out for at least eight weeks, which means he will miss the beginning of Ireland's Six Nation campaign.
With Johnny Sexton currently in the Santry Clinic rehabilitating a hamstring injury, Joe Schmidt will be hoping that his Irish players come through the busy festive schedule unscathed.
