Chris Cusiter and Ally Kellock ruled out of autumn Test series

Kellock had an operation to repair knee damage when he returned from leading Scotland to an historic first Test series win in Argentina in June, but it emerged yesterday that it had not proved successful and he went back under the knife this week.

The lock now faces around eight to 12 weeks of rehabilitation which, even if he recovers quickly, will leave him little time to recover match fitness for Scotland's matches with New Zealand, South Africa and Samoa in November.

Cusiter, Robinson's first captain, has not played since injuring his knee in Glasgow's final regular league game last May, which ruled him out of the Magners League semi-finals and Scotland's tour. It was discovered that he had a similar congenital knee condition to Andy Murray, the Scottish tennis player, that would have to be managed throughout the rest of his career.

Cusiter had been confident of returning next month, but Glasgow coach Sean Lineen revealed that medics have now decided that he needs surgery, and he will undergo an operation next week and could even miss the 2011 Six Nations Championship.

Lineen explained: "Unfortunately, Al's operation didn't go as well as planned and he's had to go in and have another. Chris's knee is not right and he'll be going for an operation next week, and could be out for anywhere between three and six months. It is incredibly frustrating, but I feel for the players. It's not their fault."