Glasgow Warriors officials were unable yesterday to confirm or deny reports that Stuart Hogg is set to undergo ankle surgery, but the Scotland and British & Irish Lions full-back looks set to miss the forthcoming autumn Tests.

Assistant coach Kenny Murray had revealed on Tuesday that Hogg was to undergo a scan on the damaged joint that day after being sent home early from the team’s South African tour, but a spokesman for the club said they had nothing to report, saying simply that: “As soon as we get an update from our medical team we’ll put something out.”

Once their medics get in touch with them it seems they will confirm that what Murray said had initially been considered an “innocuous thing” when he was hurt during their meeting with Munster earlier this month, will rule him out for around two months, adding that: “It was one of those ones that was fine during the game but after it he felt a bit pain in it.”

Hogg was slow to get up after appearing to twist in a tackle when attempting to launch a counter-attack from inside his own half after just eight minutes of that match, reaching for his left ankle. He then got to his feet but began hobbling immediately as he attempted to return to his position and, grimacing in what looked like severe pain, he then returned to the ground where he was immediately attended by a physio, covering his eyes as he received treatment.He recovered, however and played on, potentially putting extra pressure on the joint by taking on additional goal-kicking duties and only leaving the field after making the result safe with a penalty strike eight minutes before the end.

While the only Scot to have been selected for the last two Lions tours is a big loss for both club and country, Ruaridh Jackson deputised well for him when he was out injured for much of last season, while his absence from the national team could represent an important opportunity for the ever more impressive Edinburgh full-back Blair Kinghorn.