2/9/04 - Winger Hylton is out for six months

The winger, who suffered the injury during Worcester Warriors' pre-season game against Leinster on Saturday, will now have to undergo an operation and battle his way back to fitness.

It is a devastating blow for the 23-year-old who looked set for his first taste of Premiership action on Sunday as Worcester square up to Newcastle Falcons at Sixways.

It also leaves Worcester pondering a dip into the transfer market to bring in much needed cover for the backline.

"Jon is devastated," said Worcester's head coach Andy Keast. "He was devastated from day one at getting injured but we didn't know until yesterday just how severe the injury was.

"We obviously hoped that the injury wasn't going to be as serious as that but we all have to move on and look forward. Jon is a young man with time on his side and he has to take this as a positive, to build himself back up and come back even stronger."

Hylton's pace had caused problems for all of Worcester's pre-season opposition and he made a name for himself in the recent Middlesex Sevens tournament where he scored two tries as Worcester notched up a notable victory over Wasps.

"He's been flying and certainly he has improved so much from the player who joined us last season," added Keast. "He's been showing more than Premiership material in pre-season which makes it all the more disappointing.

"It is such a long time out that we may have to look at our options and the possibility of bringing somebody else in. We are not short at the moment but if we pick up another injury, then we would be struggling."

Meanwhile, Worcester have emphasised that there will be no tickets on sale before Sunday's sell-out clash with Newcastle.

"For people who don't have a car park pass, there will be no match-day parking while we must emphasise once again that there are no tickets available on the day," said operations director Mike Robins.

"There are park and ride schemes operating on the day for people without car passes."