Saracens boss provides update on Scotland star following horrific injury in Premiership game
Andy Onyeama-Christie sustained a serious ankle injury in the defeat to Harlequins last week.
Saracens boss Mark McCall has detailed his belief Scotland back-rower Andy Onyeama-Christie might feature again this season, despite picking up a serious ankle injury in his side’s defeat to Harlequins last weekend.
The back-rower was stretchered off after just six minutes at the Stoop, and later taken to hospital.
Saracens boss confident of Onyeama-Christie return this season
Speaking ahead of Saracens‘ top-of-the-table clash with Bristol Bears on Saturday, boss McCall said the flanker will undergo surgery on his ankle, and is confident he could feature again this season.
“I don’t think it’ll be a season-ending injury,” McCall told BBC Radio London. “I think he’ll be back before the end of the season, which is great news. But we’ll know more about that after the surgery.”
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The Scotland star, who has won eight caps for his country following his debut in 2022, has had his injury struggles in the past couple of seasons. He suffered a broken arm at the back end of the last campaign, which ruled him out for the run-in and Scotland’s summer tour to the Americas.
With his injury record in mind, McCall added that his star back-rower will be “very determined” to make a speedy return to the field.
“He’s one of those characters who, once he gets his head around it and once the surgery’s done, he’ll be very determined to come back as quickly as possible, like he’d done with his broken arm, better than ever,”
Onyeama-Christie has arguably been in career-best form in the early stages of the season. He scored two tries in Saracens’ opening day win over Gloucester, and featured in the next three games against Sale Sharks, Exeter Chiefs and Harlequins. His form also earned him a nomination for September’s Premiership Player of the Month award.
“He’s been buoyed by that”
Onyeama-Christie’s injury in the early stages brought the game to an understandable halt as he received treatment, and broadcaster TNT Sports opted to not show replays of it as a result.
There has been an outpouring of support from all corners of the rugby public in the UK for Onyeama-Christie, and McCall said he was “overwhelmed” by it all.
“I think Andy has been overwhelmed by all the support he’s got from a lot of places,” McCall said. “He’s been buoyed by that.”
He also highlighted the Quins supporters’ reaction to it, describing the rival fans as “brilliant”.
“I thought the crowd at Quins were brilliant in giving him an ovation off the field, I think everyone realised how serious it was.”