London Irish centre Jonathan Joseph will almost certainly miss England's Test against Fiji after failing a fitness test on an ankle.
Joseph, who has been struggling with the injury since last week, could not train with the squad on Monday and England coach Stuart Lancaster does not expect him to be involved on Tuesday either.
The England players will have Wednesday off and Lancaster will name his team on Thursday which means Joseph is running out of time to prove his fitness.
Joseph's expected absence means that Brad Barritt and Manu Tuilagi are the favourite to start in midfield for England.
Lancaster's list of absentees includes the suspended Saracens wing Chris Ashton plus the injured quartet of Alex Corbisiero, Courtney Lawes, Dylan Hartley and Ben Foden.
Harlequins centre Jordan Turner-Hall is struggling with a knee injury, which is set to keep him on the sidelines for at least a fortnight.
Joseph, Turner-Hall were joined on the sidelines by Wasps lock Tom Palmer, who has a calf problem.
Gloucester duo Freddie Burns and Billy Twelvetrees and Wasps second-rower Joe Launchbury have joined the squad as cover for the injured trio but none of them are likely to feature against Fiji.
"Tom didn't train last week with a tight calf," Lancaster said.
"I just want to make sure I have all the bases covered. We were also keen to get Joe in, particularly in light of his recent form.
"It is an opportunity to bring Freddie into the equation because we recognise the form that he is in and we want to give him the opportunity to present himself up against Toby Flood and Owen Farrell.
"He can get a feel for what we are doing and get used to the game-plan because the reality is it only takes one injury (for him to be in the squad)."
Comments
Warrior7 says...
AG, I think you were going for Matt Mullan? :P
Posted 22:29 06th November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Yeah. I hope we will give them a run for their money. I think Hartley is the one we will miss and Foden as a winger with the depth at15. Vs Fiji i will be watching our wings and hooker. Paice i hope. If they go well I will be more relaxed come the Ozzies. With Barritt and Manu I think we can expect some long passes and quick hands from the Fijian centres. Awesome defence into attack centre combo there if Manu holds his line.
Posted 20:13 06th November 2012
NHsaints says...
@ArmchairGeneral totally agree, if fiji is not a good test for him to start an England career then what test is? Certainly not any more this year. I still don't understand why twelvetrees isn't starting ahead of barritt (most likely). Just shows the depth we have now though doesn't it? With quality players like Lawes, Palmer, Corbisiero, Hartley, Foden and Joseph all out injured we can still field a side (or 2) that will give the big 3 a run for their money.
Posted 07:54 06th November 2012
theGadflY says...
I thought Joel Tomkins and Tuilagi would be a better mid-field combination.is Tomkins in the squad???
Posted 03:32 06th November 2012
sbobrfc says...
Can everyone please stop getting injured?
Posted 21:53 05th November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
If Vunipola can jump ahead of Mullins why can't Burns get ahead of Farrell? Mullins has not suffered the dip in form Farrell has suffered and the lack of game time in his preferred position Farrell has suffered. Burns is the form 10. Fiji is the game to give him a run. Burns can take England 10 play to a new level.
Posted 20:31 05th November 2012