England's injury crisis has escalated further after Mike Williams became the fourth openside flanker to be ruled out of the entire autumn series.
Williams has broken his arm for the third time in a year after sustaining the damage during a tackle drill in the warm-up to Leicester's victory over Worcester on Saturday.
The uncapped 24-year-old will miss up to three months of action in the latest setback to England's plans for their forthcoming internationals against South Africa, Fiji, Argentina and Australia.
Already bereft of James Haskell and Jack Clifford, who have undergone foot and ankle surgery respectively, they then lost Sam Jones to a broken leg and ankle damage incurred while performing judo during a recent ill-fated training camp in Brighton.
Now Williams has been added to the list of players who were under consideration to start at openside, reducing the options available to head coach Eddie Jones to Maro Itoje and Chris Robshaw packing down either side of Billy Vunipola.
