Wales star Taulupe Faletau has suffered another cruel injury blow, just days after making his long-awaited return for Cardiff.

The 35-year-old number eight made his first appearance since March in Cardiff's Champions Cup defeat to Northampton Saints on 18 October.

He looked sharp on his return. Sadly, the comeback did not last long.

As reported by BBC Sport, Faletau complained of pain in his little finger in the days after the match.

He now needs surgery and faces another spell on the sidelines.

Faletau ruled out of Welsh derby

The veteran forward will miss Cardiff's United Rugby Championship clash with Ospreys on 31 October.

However, there is hope he could return after the November break.

Cardiff head coach Corniel van Zyl confirmed the setback.

"Unfortunately he had a little bit of a niggle with a pinkie finger, so he will be on the sidelines for a while," he said.

"He will miss the Ospreys game but hopefully after November he will be fine."

The news comes as another blow for Cardiff, who have had little luck keeping their star forward fit.

Another frustrating setback

Since joining Cardiff from Bath in 2022, Faletau has made just 31 appearances.

Last season was particularly tough. Shoulder, calf and knee injuries limited him to only seven matches.

His latest setback is all the more frustrating because he came through the Northampton match without noticing anything wrong.

"I can imagine he is quite frustrated because after the game he didn't even realise it, then the next day it was sore all of a sudden," Van Zyl explained.

"It's a tough one for him to take, but hopefully he can turn it around."

For a player who has spent so much time in the treatment room, it is another rotten slice of luck.

Wales return still on the cards

The timing is especially cruel for Faletau, who had been handed fresh hope of a Wales recall.

Head coach Steve Tandy left the 109-cap veteran out of his initial Nations Championship squad but insisted his international career was far from over.

"He is a legend of our game and a world-class player, so we would definitely not rule anyone out," Tandy said.

The Wales boss also backed Faletau to push for a fourth Rugby World Cup in 2027.

However, he wanted the number eight to prove he could stay fit and play regular rugby.

"I've spoken to Toby about being fit and available; then we can cross that bridge when he has put some consistent rugby together."

Tandy also made it clear that Faletau still had the hunger to play at the highest level.

"Toby is competitive. He loves playing for Cardiff and loves playing for Wales, so I can see the drive in him," he said.

This latest setback makes that task even harder.

At 35, Faletau still has plenty to offer. The problem, once again, is getting him onto the pitch.