The Recreation Ground side might have to name their fifth option at out-half for their Premiership championship title defense opener away to Harlequins on the last Friday in September, the 26th.
With internationalist Finn Russell unavailable for the first pair of league games and Santi Carreras with the Pumas for the Rugby Championship and Sam Harris still making his way back to full fitness, Ciaran Donoghue had been picked to wear the number 10 shirt.
However, last year’s exciting talent sustained a slight knee injury at the tail end of the pre-season match against Munster and will not take the field this weekend at the very least.
Johann van Graan plans diligently and the coach maintains Bath has a lot of alternatives.
Fixture
Gallagher Premiership
Harlequins
Bath
Even so, Bath supporters will be hoping for encouraging updates on Donoghue without delay, after the 22-year-old proved a bright spark during Bath’s journey to silverware.
“We account for every scenario. It’s all about being adaptable and there are many options at 10,” stated van Graan.
“Ben Spencer has played there before for us, so has Max Ojomoh, Tom de Glanville has also been practicing in that position, Tom Carr-Smith has been a solid stand-in, and Cam Redpath has experience there, so there are choices.
“We may explore over the weekend with combinations (Bath played Exeter in the Cup and Worcester in a pre-season game).”
Meanwhile, Harris, who can play full-back or fly-half, is “coming along well” from the knee issue he sustained in February.
