Leicester Tigers lock-forward Richard Blaze will be out of the game for between nine and 12 months.

The 24-year-old has been forced to have another operation on a broken foot – the same injury that led to him missing nearly all of last season.

Blaze had the surgery at the start of last week and faces a lengthy spell of rest and rehab.

When it was announced that skipper Geordan Murphy would be out long-term with a dislocated shoulder, Tigers were able to bring in Lote Tuqiri as an injury replacement.

But Tigers head of operations Simon Cohen has ruled out bringing in anyone else for Blaze because of the club's financial situation.

"The board moved heaven and earth to find the funds to bring in Lote Tuqiri," said Cohen.

"As much as we would like to bring in a replacement for Richard Blaze it is unlikely that, in the current financial climate, there would be funds available to bring in a player of international quality."

The situation leaves Tigers with three front-line lock-forwards for the rest of the season in Ben Kay, Louis Deacon and new signing Geoff Parling.

Academy graduate Calum Green, 19, has already made four appearances in the second row for the first team this season and it is likely that he will see plenty more action.