Thompson is facing a long lay-off for Glasgow

GLASGOW WARRIORS are facing an anxious wait to discover how long Ross Thompson will be out of action. The 23-year-old fly-half suffered a fractured ankle in the closing stages of last weekend’s defeat to Leinster in the United Rugby Championship. Although it looks like the young playmaker could face a lengthy lay-off due to the injury, Glasgow are hopeful he may not necessarily require surgery. Ahead of today’s trip to face Zebre in Parma, Smith said: ‘Ross is consulting the surgeons. It looks like, if we decide on an operation, it’s probably going to happen next Thursday. But there is another way to treat this — and that is conservatively. That is being discussed. ‘We are going to do what’s best for the player but there won’t be clarity around it until Thursday of next week. ‘We are in the hands of the surgeons, so I don’t want to comment too much. ‘There is a chance that Ross can recover (without an operation) but it comes down to the time frame. We’re just trying to find the right way but we’ll probably make that decision on Thursday.’ Glasgow will be huge favourites to beat a Zebre side who have lost all eight games in the league so far this season. Smith admits the Warriors’ poor away form has become an issue and they need to ‘get the monkey off their back’. It will also be a family affair for Smith, with his son Franco Junior on the bench for the Italians. ‘It was inevitable, I suppose,’ laughed the head coach. ‘I’m glad for my son that he gets an opportunity again after injury and happy to see him out there — but there will be no love lost! He knows it. ‘I’m focused on what I’m going to do. It’s something that comes along once in a lifetime.’ Kick-off: 1pm, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi. LIVE on Viaplay Sports.