WORCESTER Warriors face up to six weeks without injured hooker Jack Singleton – but a world record breaker looks set to step into the breach.

Since going away with USA last month Joe Taufete’e has written his name into the history books by becoming the leading front-row try-scorer in international rugby.

The 26-year-old surpassed Ireland legend Keith Wood’s long-standing record haul of 15 tries with a hat-trick against Uruguay in the Americas Rugby Championship.

Fresh from bagging a brace in the win over Canada to increase his tally to 20 touchdowns in 22 internationals Taufete’e is due to come back to Worcester later this week.

His return to Sixways comes at an ideal time for Warriors who are embroiled in a relegation battle in the Gallagher Premiership and have been hit by Singleton’s injury.

Singleton damaged his elbow in the 17-6 defeat at Newcastle Falcons two weeks ago and boss Alan Solomons expects his first-choice hooker to be sidelined for more than one month.

“Jack doesn’t require an operation which is really positive,” Solomons said.

“Depending on how the injury heals it is between four and six weeks.”

Niall Annett stepped into Singleton’s shoes and produced a man-of-the-match showing in Warriors’ 33-30 defeat to Exeter Chiefs on Saturday.

The Irishman had made a quicker than expected recovery from a shoulder injury to pack down for Worcester but looked in discomfort when he left the field to be replaced by Isaac Miller.

However with Taufete’e set to arrive Solomons reckons Warriors will be able to manage without Singleton as they look ahead to their meeting with Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate on Saturday, March 23 (3pm).

“If you think about it we have got Joe coming back and Niall got through Saturday’s game,” Solomons said.

“Touchwood Niall is going to be fine and Isaac is there as well so we do have three hookers at the moment.

“Jack is not that far off.

“He missed this week so that’s one week and we haven’t got a game next weekend.

“He is then two weeks away from possibly playing. It might be a wee bit longer but he is certainly going to be back before the end of the season.”

Solomons was also impressed with the performance of Miller at the weekend.

The 24-year-old had a torrid afternoon at Falcons but did little wrong during his 17-minute cameo against Chiefs.

“I thought Isaac did really well,” Solomons said.

“He hit all his lineouts and buzzed around the field.

“He is a good, young player that was put in a very difficult position last week in a side that wasn’t playing particularly well.”

Centre Francois Venter had to be replaced after suffering a blow to his head but Solomons praised Ollie Lawrence for the impact he made off the bench.

“Francois seemed alright after the game but he will have to go through the protocol,” Solomons added.

“There is a two-week break before we play again so that should give him ample time to recover.

“Having said that I thought Ollie came on and did really well.

“We forget that Ollie was at school last year. But I thought he had a really good game.”