JACK Carty will miss Connacht’s Guinness Pro12 clash with Newport Gwent Dragons after suffering a freak injury on a Dubai water slide.

The 23-year-old, who was caught in the head by the elbow of Rynard Landman in last year’s fixture at Rodney Parade, leading to a red card for the South African lock, ruptured his spleen on holiday last week.

Carty has had his spleen removed and will spend another week in hospital in Dubai with Connacht’s medical team estimating a recovery time of between one and three months.

His absence is a blow for the Irish province as he has played 12 league games this season and pulled the strings in their crucial victory against the Scarlets in Galway a fortnight ago.

Connacht are, however, set to be boosted by the returns of wing Matt Healy, back row Sean O’Brien and hooker Jason Harris-Wright from concussions while prop JP Cooney is available after four months out with a shoulder injury.

Pat Lam’s side, who triumphed 30-25 against the 14-man Dragons last February, will go back to the top of the Pro12 if they avoid defeat in Newport.

They currently have five players in Joe Schmidt’s Six Nations squad – centre Robbie Henshaw, prop Nathan White and scrum-half Kieran Marmion were named in the 23 against Wales while lock Ultan Dillane and prop Finlay Bealham are in the training group.