THOUGHTS of next month's Principality Cup game against Llanelli have been banished to the touchlines after a nasty injury to young Pontypool winger Nathan Daniel in Saturday's game against Maesteg.

The rising star suffered a dislocated knee and doctors suspect he has also snapped his cruciate ligament. If that proves true, he'll be out of the game for at least six months.

Daniel sustained the horror injury after his leg was torn in a ruck just eight minutes into to Pooler's cup battle with Maesteg. The game was immediately halted as officials attended to Daniel.

He was rushed to the Princess Of Wales Hospital in Bridgend where doctors tried to drain fluid off the knee, but their attempts failed, suggesting he had torn his cruciate ligament similar to the injury that nearly ended footballer Paul Gascoigne's career.

A heartbroken Daniel said: "I'm gutted. I had worked so hard to get into the side and finally I felt I had earned myself a regular place in the team. To have it taken away like this is just terrible."

Still only 21, the Pontypool-born speedster has every chance of making it back to full fitness. This season the young talent had made a big impression with Pooler coaches Steve Jones and Nigel Callard.

In 13 games, he had scored four tries. But just as impressive as the attacking skills was his defensive abilities.

Daniel was one of the side's most potent tackles, very much in the Lenny Woodard mould, and it was his fearless defensive qualities that had deservedly earned him a place in the side.

Now that hard work has been ruined by one moment of heartbreaking bad luck. "I'm not bothered about missing the Llanelli game," admitted Daniel.

"It's the fact that my season's over. When I saw my knee I knew it was all over. I heard the cruciate ligament snap and pain was just unbelievable. It was like someone had parked a bus on it.

"Everything was going so well for me. It's all hard to take in, I just can't get the vision of my knee and how it looked out of my head. Nicky Lloyd came running over to me when it happened and I told him I had to look at it. It still haunts me now."

Pontypool scraped to a 23-22 victory and landing a plum home tie against the mighty Scarlets. Despite the poor display it should have been a time of celebration, but none of the players or coaching staff breathed a word of the draw.

"We're just devastated," admitted team manager Tony Clarke.

"Nathan's a lovely lad who has worked his socks off this season. He's a true Pontypool lad who has come through the ranks and I'm just heart broken that this has happened.

"No-one's talking about the Llanelli game. Our thoughts are with Nathan. He a great player and has the courage and determination to fight his way back," added Clarke.

Daniel's journey back to full fitness is sure to be a long and painful one, but the young ace is optimistic he'll be back.

"I not throwing the towel in. I got myself into the side once and I'll be back to do it again."