Sam Underhill will miss England’s Six Nations campaign after undergoing ankle surgery, Bath Rugby have confirmed.
The England flanker is expected to be out of action for around three months after suffering ankle ligament damage in Bath’s 23-16 Gallagher Premiership win over Leicester Tigers on Dec. 30.
Underhill’s England and Bath teammates Joe Cokanasiga and Jonathan Joseph should both return from injury this month, while Maro Itoje will be back in action for Saracens this weekend.
Underhill would have been a contender to start for England after an impressive November international series last year including a Man of the Match display against the All Blacks at Twickenham.
But he will not now be able to add to his nine England caps and is likely to miss most of the remainder of the Gallagher Premiership season as well.
Winger Cokanasiga has been out with a knee ligament injury but is expected to return in mid-January around the time Eddie Jones announces his Six Nations squad.
Cokanasiga made his England debut and landed his first try against Japan in November before adding another try a week later against Australia.
Joseph has been out since last April after successive surgeries on a foot injury but is also aiming to return for his club by the middle of the month.
Elsewhere Maro Itoje has been included in Saracens’ squad to play Lyon on Saturday in the European Champions Cup.
The second row suffered a chipped patella during the November internationals but has made a quick recovery and should now figure in Eddie Jones plans.
England begin their Six Nations campaign away to last year’s Grand Slam winners Ireland on Feb. 2 in Dublin.
Jones is expected to announce his squad on Jan. 16.