England prop Alex Corbisiero is expected to miss the 2016 Six Nations after requiring knee surgery.
Corbisiero, 27, has had a string of recent injuries and last played for England in August's Rugby World Cup warm-up game against France, in which he injured his back.
"Six Nations is a very long way off for him, I think his focus is on getting himself fit and back in the Northampton squad," Northampton Saints boss Jim Mallinder told reporters.
"We have to keep positive with him, you don't chuck injured lads over the boat, you do whatever you can to get them fit as quickly as possible."
Corbisiero will undergo surgery on Tuesday.
