Mason Grady ruled out of autumn as Wales wing to undergo surgery

Mason Grady has been released from Wales' autumn squad with an ankle injury that requires surgery that will leave him with an extended period on the sidelines.

Grady, who limped off after just 17 minutes of Wales' defeat to Fiji on Sunday, has not been replaced in Warren Gatland's squad, as he prepares to undergo surgery.

After undergoing scans on Monday, it's understood that Grady could be sidelined for a couple of months - likely ruling him out of a handful of Cardiff's Welsh derbies and opening Challenge Cup fixtures.

READ MORE:Today's rugby news as Gatland facing 'biggest week of his career' and Wales to face 'freak'

READ MORE:Tonight's rugby news as Wales v Fiji star summoned after match and Anscombe says players hurt

He could also face a race to be fit for the Six Nations.

Both Josh Adams and full-back Liam Williams have been training with Wales, along with No. 8 Taulupe Faletau, ahead of returns from injury and both could have been considered as call-ups. However, Wales instead feel there's already enough cover within the squad.

Gatland will now have to decide who replaces Grady in the starting XV as Wales look to avoid an 11th consecutive defeat against Australia on Sunday.

The loss of Grady comes as a blow to Wales, who are short of strong ball carriers at the moment.

Having played at inside centre in the summer, the 22-year-old looked far more comfortable out wide in the early exchanges of the 24-19 loss on Sunday - coming off his wing nicely to help set up Blair Murray's early try.

Grady's departure also coincided with Wales' grip on the game slipping away. With Gatland having opted for a six-two split on the bench, fly-half Sam Costelow was forced to deputise on the wing for 47 minutes, before Ellis Bevan finished off the game out wide with a 16-minute cameo.

However, after the match, Gatland revealed that the plan had been for Bevan to replace Grady directly - with the Wales coach saying he would "need to get to the bottom" of the mix-up.

The Wales v Fiji inquest podcast