POWERFUL Worcester Warriors lock Tevita Cavubati has suffered a broken bone in his foot and could be out of action for a “significant period of time".

The Fijian second row has fractured a metatarsal bone, a part of the foot which shot to fame when former Manchester United and England footballer David Beckham damaged his in 2002.

Cavubati has been ruled out of Warriors’ must-win clash against Newcastle Falcons at Sixways on Sunday (3pm).

The 29-year-old’s injury is being assessed after he was trodden on during a line-out in Warriors’ 34-34 Aviva Premiership draw against Sale Sharks last Saturday.

The bone generally takes around six to eight weeks to heal to a significant degree.

“Unfortunately, Tevita has got a fracture in his foot and so we are assessing that and the length of time accordingly,” explained Warriors head coach Carl Hogg.

“I think he will be out for a significant period of time and we will have to wait and see.

“Somebody stood on his foot and I think it’s a metatarsal (bone).

“He’s in the hands of the medics and hopefully we will get some guidelines on the timelines in the next two or three days."

Cavubati played 11 times in the Premiership last term and made three appearances this season.

He has been most effective for Warriors in matches as an impact player after coming off the bench.

With Cavubati set for a spell on the sidelines, giant lock Christian Scotland-Williamson is likely to be moved up the pecking order.

Donncha O’Callaghan and Darren Barry have emerged as the starting second-row pairing.

However, Scotland-Williamson is continuing his comeback from the bench after two years out of the sport with a back injury.

Hogg says former Bath lock Will Spencer, who has had a troublesome back problem and not played a competitive match for Worcester, could return in “two or three weeks”.

Hogg said: “We have Christian (Scotland-Williamson) and Will (Spencer) who we are hoping to get back in the next two or three weeks, which stiffens us up through the second-row area.

“Donncha (O’Callaghan) is performing outstandingly well week in week out so the injury puts more workloads on these players but hopefully we will get guys like Will (Spencer) back soon.”