WORCESTER Wolves forward Ben Eaves could be out of action for up to two months after going under the knife to repair a "very rare" thumb injury.

The 28-year-old, who has been a regular in the Wolves team since his arrival from Manchester Giants in August, sustained the fracture during a university match in Durham last week.

Head coach Paul James said Eaves' injury was a blow to his side and revealed they were unlikely to see him back on the court for eight weeks as he recovers from the operation.

"We had an unfortunate incident last week when Ben Eaves dislocated his thumb in a university game up in Durham which he has had to have an operation on," James said.

"Basically, he grabbed a rebound and went back up for a shot and somebody came down on his thumb.

"It is not one of his knuckle joints that he fractured as it was a little bit further up, so it is a very rare injury apparently and it is one that can only be fixed by pinning it in place and having him in a cast.

"He is very disappointed about it. He is in a plaster cast for at least five or six weeks, so he may not be on the floor for another couple of weeks after that as well, so we will just have to monitor the situation and wish him well."

James said 6ft 7in Eaves had been one of his most consistent performers in the British Basketball League this season, but he has backed Slovakian international Pavol Losonsky to fill his shoes.

"Ben was playing exceptionally well, so losing him is going to hurt us a bit, but at the same time it will give someone else an opportunity to get more court time," he said.

"We can't afford another player to go down in that four or five position otherwise we will be struggling, but we have cover in Pavol Losonsky who can make up the difference.

"Ben took his starting five spot when he got hurt, so hopefully Pavol can take his chance now."