December has arrived and it seems that one thing most Premiership clubs will be hoping for under the Christmas tree is a shorter injury list.

Despite Saracens fighting off Sale in a close encounter on Saturday, the game was somewhat over shadowed by the injury to Will Fraser.

It is never nice to see somebody leave the pitch in such circumstances no matter what team they play for or who they are but the sight was made even worse knowing that it was the 24-year-old receiving treatment.

The flanker has had more than his fair share of time on the sidelines in his career up to date, the most recent being a rare shoulder injury, which saw the tendon ripped from the bone, and subsequent nerve weakness.

Injury saw Fraser, who was a crucial cog in Saracens’ 2012/2013 campaign miss the business end of last season and England’s tour to Argentina, a trip he looked set to be included on.

There is constant talk of England needing a genuine openside and the England Saxons’ squad member could have been the answer to their problems.

Although losing Fraser will be a huge blow to Sarries, luckily the back row isn’t a place they lack options with the international players returning to their clubs and Jacques Burger putting in a string of unbelievable performances.

One of the first people to tweet the flanker after his injury was the Namibian international, who isn’t a stranger to the physio room himself.

It was lovely to see his genuine concern and well wishes towards the guy he competes with week in week out for the number 7 shirt and if anybody can relate to a long-term spell on the sidelines, it certainly is Burger.

Although the injury to Fraser is disappointing for the club and for himself, there is no doubting he is a quality player with a bright future ahead of him who will come back stronger and knock on the door of international recognition once again.