Six Nations
England lose Lawes to knee injury
ESPNscrum Staff
January 11, 2011
England's Courtney Lawes takes on the Wallaby defence, England v Australia, Twickenham, London, England, November 13, 2010
Courtney Lawes has been ruled out of the Six Nations © Getty Images
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England have suffered a major blow prior to the Six Nations with the news that Courtney Lawes will miss the tournament with a knee injury.

The Northampton lock damaged ligaments in last weekend's 27-16 Aviva Premiership loss to Leicester at Welford Road and is set to be sidelined for up to three months.

"He's damaged a medial cruciate ligament and is expected to be out for around about three months," a Northampton spokesman said. "We expect him to play before the end of the season."

The loss of the 21-year-old Lawes, coupled with the recent suspension of Gloucester's Dave Attwood for stamping, opens the door for Leicester's Louis Deacon and Wasps' Simon Shaw to stake their claims for inclusion against Wales at the Millennium Stadium on February 4.

Lawes has formed a blossoming partnership with Stade Francais' Tom Palmer in recent Tests since usurping former skipper Steve Borthwick on England's summer tour of Australia, with Martin Johnson's lineout issues further complicated by the absence of the athletic Tom Croft with a shoulder injury.

Johnson is also awaiting news on Lawes' Northampton team-mate Chris Ashton, who was forced from the field against the Tigers with a quad injury.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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