Courtney Lawes is in doubt for England’s end-of-year Tests against South Africa, Fiji, Argentina and Australia.

Lawes aggravated a recurring knee injury in training earlier this week, and despite being named to play for Northampton this weekend, the 27-year-old had to withdraw as the injury worsened.

The injury could further deplete England's lock stocks, with Maro Itoje and George Kruis already been ruled out with injury.

Northampton Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder confirmed Lawes has been sent for scans to determine the extent of the injury.

‘Courtney has a bad knee injury, he did it a couple of weeks ago and missed the Montpellier game with it. We thought it had improved and he played last week with no problem, but midweek in training it reacted, so we’ll have to have a scan on it to see the extent of the injury.

'I'm not sure if he will be ready for the autumn internationals, fingers crossed there is not too much damage and he will be ready in a couple of weeks’ time.’

England play the Springboks at Twickenham on 12 November.

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