England winger Sam Underhill is unlikely to play any part in the Six Nations after his club Bath revealed he needs ankle surgery.
Underhill picked up the injury when he came on as a substitute in Sunday's 35-34 defeat at Northampton and with no date set for his return, he looks set to miss the entire Championship.
“Sam will undergo surgery to correct a new ankle injury. There is no set time frame for his recovery,” according to a Bath medical update.
England are well stocked in the back rows, but the loss of Underhill is still a huge blow for head coach Steve Borthwick.
After being overlooked in England's 2023 World Cup squad, the 28-year-old reasserted himself last year by starting in the Six Nations and all three Tests on the summer tour to Japan and New Zealand.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Highlights from the second Test between New Zealand and England in the Summer International at Eden Park in July.
An ankle problem he picked up on tour required surgery, delaying his start to the new campaign and forcing him to sit out the first two games of the autumn against the All Blacks and Australia.
But he returned to openside for the campaign-closing clashes with South Africa and Japan, scoring a try in each game and impressing with his overall performance.
A 40-cap veteran, Underhill brings physicality to the England team, particularly in defense where he is among the most destructive forwards in the game.
Underhill struggled to become a key man under Borthwick but now faces a spell
It is the latest injury for Borthwick, who looks set to be without winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso for the entire tournament with a dislocated shoulder, while full-back George Furbank is struggling with a broken arm.
Flanker Ollie Chessum is closing in on a return from a knee injury, however, while scrum-half Alex Mitchell has fully recovered from a neck problem.
Borthwick named his Six Nations squad on Tuesday and faces a tough opener against Ireland on February 1 in Dublin.
Sky Sports+ has officially launched and will be integrated into it Sky TVstreaming service NOW and The Sky Sports app – giving Sky Sports customers access to over 50 per cent more live sport this year at no extra cost. Stream the new EFL season, Test cricket and more top sports from NOW.