Henley Hawks scrum half Dan Smaje is unlikely to play again this season after suffering complications with his leg injury.

The ex-England under 21 cap, who rejoined Henley last summer, had hoped to be fit again in the new year, but he no longer has a clear date in mind.

He said: “I dislocated my ankle and broke my leg playing in the last warm-up game before the season started.

“I had a plate put in mid September, but the wound got infected.

“I had to have a muscle flap where they cut some muscle out of my other thigh and put in on the injured leg.”

Smaje, 30, said the second operation lasted 11 hours and now visits a plastic surgeon at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital for weekly check-ups.

“I have not been able to work for the last three months, so that has been very difficult, especially at this busy time,” added Smaje, who runs The White Hart pub in Headington.

Smaje joined Newbury from Henley in 2005 and played for Ealing last season.

He said: “I joined Henley when I was six, so it has been my club all the way through.

“I played there in National 1 for about five years.

“I had just decided to go back last summer, so it was really bad luck.”

Henley head coach Jason Forster believes Ben Jones, the scrum half they have signed on loan from Birmingham & Solihull, will prove a good replacement for Smaje.

“I daren’t say how many half-back combinations we have had this season,” said Forster.

“It has been disruptive, but you just have got to get on with the cards you are dealt.

“Ben will give us a little more focus and time on the ball. His experience is going to be vital.”

Henley’s form has picked up after a slow start, but Forster has been impressed by his players’ attitude throughout.

He said: “It is quite easy when you are at the bottom end of the table to start dipping, but the numbers have been there in training and the atmosphere is great.

“The camaraderie has been second to none.”