Gloucester endured a torrid afternoon in the north-east as they crashed to a shock 10-7 defeat at Newcastle and lost Olly Morgan to an horrific finger injury.

The 23-year-old England full-back, who had been in fine form, suffered an open fracture shortly after half-time and underwent surgery on Sunday.

He is definitely ruled out of next Sunday's crucial Heineken Cup pool clash against Cardiff Blues at Kingsholm – and joins Lesley Vainikolo, James Simpson-Daniel, Iain Balshaw, Greg Somerville, Andy Hazell, Gareth Delve, Akapusi Qera and Peter Buxton on a lengthy injury list.

Centre and skipper Mike Tindall also hobbled off with what head coach Dean Ryan termed "a pretty serious dead leg" and will be monitored over the next few days.

"It's obviously very serious for Olly – and has come in what is a big week for us in terms of the amount of people we've got down at the moment," said Ryan.

"He's got a pretty serious fracture of his finger – it's an open fracture. We'll get him home and we'll know more soon.

"I think there's some tendon damage – and once he has been operated on we will understand the full extent of it."

Balshaw, who has been struggling with a groin problem, and Simpson-Daniel, who had surgery on his ankle in October, could both come back into the reckoning for Sunday's match. But if they are unable to play, Ryan will be without the four frontline international back-three players in his squad.

"Hopefully we've got Balsh and Sinbad on the horizon – but whether they will make next week, I don't know," said the head coach. "If they don't, then we will have to have some young lads coming in."

As for Tindall, he will be assessed throughout a week when he is expected to be recalled to the England squad ahead of the Six Nations Championship.

"It's clearly a pretty serious dead leg for Mike to come off, but we've got a bit of time until the next game," said Ryan. "And with Mike, we will give him all the time possible."

Victory at Newcastle yesterday would have taken Gloucester top of the Guinness Premiership – but defeat leaves them two points adrift of London Irish heading into the European competition fortnight. And the result saw the Falcons heap more misery on bottom-of-the-table Bristol, who are now seven points adrift of safety.