ULSTER CAPTAIN JOHANN Muller is set for another long spell on the sidelines after fracturing his forearm in Ulster’s comprehensive 25-6 win away to Northampton last night.

The second row had only returned to the side after six weeks out with ligament damage in his thumb.

With 40 minutes of Pro12 action against Llanelli under his belt, he returned to Heineken Cup duty for his province last night against Pool 4 rivals Northampton Saints.

Muller would play a key role in a commanding display which ultimately ended the visitors taking a bonus point.

But the Springbok’s evening ended after 50 minutes, shortly after he attempted to tackle slight Saints winger Jamie Elliot while unable to raise his right arm.

The lock was replaced by Nick Williams and gingerly took a seat on the bench and bowed his head with the right arm still cradled motionless.

This afternoon, Ulster Rugby have reported that Muller, 32, has had the problem x-rayed, and the scan showed: “an undisplaced fracture of his radius.”

The club estimate he will miss the next eight weeks of action, a time-frame which will not only rule him out of the return meeting with Northampton at Ravenhill next weekend, but also the northern province’s final set of pool fixtures in January.

Ulster currently sit top of the pool in pole position for a home quarter final having won all 13 of their fixtures so far this season.

‘A bit of a statement’: Ulster show their worth

Munster v Saracens: 3 key battles to decide the outcome