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England flanker faces five-week absence
Rugby Union, 11:34, January 17, 2010 ,
England have been hit by the news Leicester flanker Tom Croft will miss the first half of the Six Nations after injuring his left knee.
It is the second time the blind-side has injured his left knee this season after he was forced off just 27 minutes into Leicester's Heineken Cup win over Viadana, having just returned from a six-week lay-off.
Croft is now expected to miss another five weeks of action which means he will be unavailable for selection by England coach Martin Johnson for the Six Nations matches against Wales and Italy. It is hoped he would be back for England's third game of the championship, against Ireland on February 26, but that depends on if he plays a part in Leicester's Guinness Premiership match against Gloucester on February 20.
"It's a blow to injure the same knee," said Tigers boss Richard Cockerill.
"England manager Martin Johnson might be concerned about Tom's Six Nations situation, my only concern is that we won't have him in Swansea next weekend.
"I have my job to do, Martin has his. But Crofty is a world class player who hadn't seen action for ages. He needed playing time, so I had no qualms starting him."