TOULOUSE: Toulouse general manager Guy Noves expressed his optimism Monday that centre Gael Fickou will be fit in time for the World Cup despite being ruled out for over two months with a knee injury.
Noves said the 21-year-old -- who put in a sparkling performance for France in the 55-35 defeat by England in their Six Nations clash -- will definitely be out of action for 'between two and two-and-a-half months' after suffering a 'severely sprained left knee' in the 34-24 victory over defending Top 14 champions Toulon on Saturday.
"Gael has big hopes of competing in the World Cup and I don't think there will be a problem," said Noves of the tournament which starts mid-September.
"If he returns earlier we'll welcome him with open arms but he's a young player and we must be cautious. Between rest and recovery he will be absent for at least two months. We want to do things correctly."
Noves added: "The French team will have two months to prepare for the World Cup and if the staff believe that he has proven he can be in the group there shouldn't be any reason (why he shouldn't)."
Noves pointed out that Montpellier's French international fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc and Clermont scrum-half Morgan Parra had also both been sidelined injured.
"You can see that we're talking again about Trin-Duhc, who had a fracture (but returned for Montpellier at the weekend), but also Parra so we mustn't deprive ourselves of the best players, it's obvious."
Noves, meanwhile, admitted that his team might draft in medical cover for their growing injury list with Alexis Palisson (knee) and Clement Poitrenaud (ankle) also sidelined.
"The question is whether we can get a player capable of playing at a certain level, the playoffs notably," said Noves.
Toulouse are fifth in the Top 14 with the top six teams advancing to the playoffs with five games to play.
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