Six Nations
England suffer Croft Six Nations blow
ESPNscrum Staff
December 23, 2010
Tom Croft has suffered a further injury setback © Getty Images
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England have suffered a major setback prior to the Six Nations with confirmation that Tom Croft faces a further six to eight weeks on the sidelines with a shoulder injury.

The Leicester flanker suffered a fractured scapula during England's 21-11 November loss to South Africa but it was initially hoped that he would be fit to face Wales at the Millennium Stadium on February 4.

The prognosis was confirmed on Wednesday by Tigers boss Richard Cockerill, who will be without the former British & Irish Lion for Heineken Cup meetings with the Scarlets and Benetton Treviso as well as their pivotal Aviva Premiership derby against Northampton Saints.

"He will be out for another six to eight weeks from today," he said. "It will be six weeks at best, but eight weeks is more realistic. His shoulder is intact but it was a pretty traumatic blow to it. The cartilage is all in one piece, but all the nerves around it have to recover."

Stade Francais blindside James Haskell will be the likely deputy for Croft although Phil Dowson has furthered his international claims with another strong start to the season with Northampton.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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