Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk faces four months out of action due to injury.

Already ruled out of the world champions’ end-of-year tour of Europe, the 30-year-old had surgery on a hip flexor problem earlier this week and is not expected to return until 2022 at the earliest.

But while it was initially believed that De Klerk would be out of action for at least five months, Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson has confirmed that the Bok scrumhalf will return earlier than expected.

“We’re hoping it might be less than five months – maybe around four months, but we’ll see,” Sanderson said during a news conference on Thursday. “I’m not happy about it but what can you do. We have to stay cheerful.

“Faf is a very positive lad,” he added. “He’s brought his girlfriend back over from South Africa to look after him which is massive for him personally. If anyone is going to come back from an injury like this as strong and as motivated, then it’s him.

“Our strength and conditioning guys are very experienced, and they’ll get the best advice too.”

De Klerk was one of several injured players omitted from a 32-strong squad announced by Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber on Tuesday, including wing Cheslin Kolbe, flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit, lock RG Snyman and prop Frans Malherbe.

Having won the World Cup in 2019, the Springboks went 19 months without a Test due to the coronavirus pandemic before winning six Tests and losing four this year.

They recovered from a first Test loss to the British & Irish Lions to win the series 2-1 before losing twice to Australia. They also lost their first match against the All Blacks but won the second.

The Bok squad travel to France on Friday for a one-week training camp before heading to Britain for a trio of November Tests against Wales, Scotland and England.

Photo: Patrick Hamilton/AFP via Getty Images