Northampton will await expert opinion before deciding when George North will next play after confirming the Wales wing will miss Saturday 's European Champions Cup quarter-final at Clermont Auvergne after his latest head injury . North has been knocked unconscious three times in recent months , including in last Friday 's 52-30 win over Wasps , and was on Wednesday being assessed by a neurologist . 'We wo n't play him at the weekend , ' Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder said . George North lies motionless on the Franklin 's Gardens turf after being knocked out against Wasps . 'Clearly he had a nasty knock . He did get knocked unconscious for a very short period of time . Thankfully he was well looked after , he came round very quickly and has had no real bad adverse after-effects . But even so , we wo n't play him this weekend . 'He 's making good progress . He 's improving and down there at the moment going to see a neurologist and we 'll wait to see what the experts say . 'We 've got to make sure the medical experts are happy and satisfied that he is fit to return to play and as soon as they say he is , then we 'll be happy to pick him again . ' North left the field unconscious after scoring the second of two tries in Saints ' win , with Wasps forward Nathan Hughes sent off for dangerous play as the Wales wing touched down . Hughes protested his innocence but on Tuesday was banned for three weeks . North also suffered blows to the head on Wales duty in the autumn and during the RBS 6 Nations when twice he had head knocks in the opener against England , controversially continuing before being stood down for the Scotland clash . Former World Rugby medical adviser Dr Barry O'Driscoll says North - the top try-scorer in the competition with seven this season - should not play again this term . Nathan Hughes arrives late as North touches down - moments later his leg connected with the wing 's head . Mallinder is not unduly concerned but will await medical opinion . 'There 's been lots of opinion over the last few days in particular , ' Mallinder said . 'We 've got to be careful that we do n't blow anything out of proportion . 'It 's a tough game . George has said that himself . People who play the game understand that there are inherent dangers , I suppose , of playing . 'We 're always going to have incidents but player welfare will always come first . We will make sure we follow all protocols . ' North might have been eligible for Saturday 's match , had he passed the return to play concussion protocols . Mallinder added : 'If it was his first one ( concussion ) then we would be considering him , if he passed all the protocols that he had to and was available . 'Seeing as it 's not his first then it 's the sensible thing to take specialist opinion . ' Mallinder was reluctant to comment on Hughes ' three-week ban - a punishment which left his Wasps team-mate James Haskell to tweet 'astounded would be an understatement ' - but insisted he did not want to see the incident repeated . The Welshman receives medical treatment on the pitch before being taken off on a stretcher . Mallinder said : ' I said at the time I think it was a red card offence . I still do . The disciplinary process has taken place and that 's what he 's got . 'You 've got to be very , very careful . George North scored a try and therefore there was n't much anybody could do about that . 'You 've got to make as much effort as you can to get away from that incident . We do n't want that happening again . ' The English champions will , without North , bid to end Clermont 's 22-game unbeaten run in European competition at Stade Marcel-Michelin . Two previous meetings have been won by the Frenchmen , who have never lost a home quarter-final in the competition . Mallinder said : 'It is going to be a massive challenge but we have had a few of these challenges over the years . ' I know when we have got a big game because you see in training when the intensity goes up . 'We have got a lot of players used to playing in big games . We are looking forward to it . ' North is congratulated after scoring the first of his two tries against Wasps on Friday night .
NorthGeorge North knocked out after scoring against Wasps on Friday . Concussion was the wing 's third suffered in recent months . George North will sit out Saturday 's Champions Cup clash on medical advice . Wasps No 8 Nathan Hughes been banned for three weeks for the incident .