Triple Glasgow Warriors injury boost and Scotland stars return

The URC title holders didn’t enjoy the best of luck during the international break for the Autumn Nations Series with three of their Scotland contingent sustaining injuries. 

Jack Dempsey sparked the biggest concern with the Warriors number 8 sustaining a shoulder injury that Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend felt would keep him out until 2025. Max Williamson required surgery on his thumb with Townsend providing a similar injury time frame, while Gregor Brown also picked up an injury. 

But Carolan believes Dempsey and Williamson could play again this year and it’s understood that Williamson could also pull on the Glasgow jersey in 2024. 

“He did an AC joint but he didn’t need any surgical intervention and he’s just been doing rehabilitation,” Carolan said of Dempsey. “He’s making really good progress and we hope to see him this side of Christmas. It wasn’t a great block of games for Glasgow players with Jack and Max Williamson being the two major ones. 

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“Gregor hurt a joint at the front of his shoulder and it’s a niggly one. We are being conservative but he should also be back before Christmans. The squad players need to step up because if they are going to wear a medal at the end of the season then it’s their finals now to show their worth.”

Glasgow captain Kyle Steyn cruelly missed the Autumn Nations Series after his injury was more severe than initially hoped but he could also play this year. 

“He could be back this side of Christmas,” Carolan confirmed. “He was in fine form before he got injured and it was the form of his life. I’ve not seen him that good since I got here and he was ticking all the boxes in all aspects of his game. It would have been a very interesting Autumn if he had been available but it may have provided opportunities to some of our other players to get gametime.” 

There was more good news for Warriors fans with several returning Scotland stars desperate to be involved against the Scarlets on Friday night.

“Everyone is technically available but the challenge is to manage their loads over the next few weeks,” Carolan added. “The few that are available this week may need a break across the next few weeks and vice versa. Stafford McDowall, George Horne, Tom Jordan, Jamie Bhatti and Adam Hastings have all requested to be available and they are eager to be involved - some felt they didn’t get enough minutes over the last few internationals.

"The players that had heavy workloads will be rested and re-integrated ahead of next week. We’ve had so many players involved with Scotland that we couldn’t leave everyone out as we wouldn’t have a team.”