WORCESTER Warriors have started their search for an emergency scrum-half, head coach Carl Hogg has revealed this afternoon.

Head of rugby recruitment Jan McGinity will be scouring the globe to find a suitable number nine for the injury-ravaged Aviva Premiership club.

South African Francois Hougaard returned from international duty with a shoulder injury and had an operation today to repair a damaged tendon.

Hougaard will be sidelined for between 10 and 12 weeks which leaves the experienced Jonny Arr and Luke Baldwin battling for the starting jersey for Warriors trip to Harlequins on Saturday (3pm).

Fly-half Tom Heathcote (concussion) will miss at least the trip to Twickenham Stoop, while skipper Gerrit-Jan Velze (concussion) still remains “two or three weeks away”.

Wing Cooper Vuna (knee) will be out for “six weeks” and Bryce Heem (knee) remains “four weeks” from a return, according to Hogg.

Hogg said: “We will probably look at some individuals who can come into the squad, especially as cover for the nines.

“We lost Francois for a period of time so we are looking at people who can come in and do a job for us.

“We are very fortunate to have someone of Jonny's ability and class who has played exceptionally well over the first six games.

“Clearly it’s disappointing to lose someone’s of Francois’ ability, presence and character in the side but we are very fortunate to have someone like Jonny who has performed well for us.”

Warriors will “scope globally” for a new player and Hogg says they are “very fortunate” McGinity has “contacts all over the world”.

“We are currently looking at players who can come in and potentially fill slots when we have got men down,” said Hogg.

“We will use the Anglo-Welsh Cup window and if do get players in we will look at the cup.

“It’s very difficult to parachute a player into an environment when he is not aware of calls and systems.

“If we do find a player of potential to come in, we will probably use that Anglo-Welsh window just to grade them in.”

Lock Christian Scotland-Williamson (knee) is a doubt for this weekend's clash and flanker Marco Mama (hamstring) is sidelined for another month.

However, South African flanker Dewald Potgieter is available after injury.

“I am delighted to have him (Potgieter) back in the mix – he’s a quality player and you can see that when he trains,” said Hogg.

“Dewald is another player who has gone through a tough period of time.

“He had a shoulder injury and then a quad injury in pre-season, so he’s had it tough.

"But he’s a class player who reads the game exceptionally well and I am looking forward to getting him involved.”