Owen Farrell’s participation in England’s Six Nations campaign is in doubt after Saracens released a statement confirming the flyhalf will consult with a specialist over an injury suffered in training.

Farrell’s English Premiership club, Saracens confirmed on Friday morning that he had suffered an unspecified training injury and will be consulting with a specialist early next week.

The injury has not only ruled him out of Sunday’s European Challenge Cup match against London Irish, but has also cast a shadow over his participation in the upcoming Six Nations.

Farrell was set to make his comeback from a troublesome ankle injury on Sunday, when he would be given the opportunity to prove his fitness ahead of the European tournament.

According to the Telegraph, England’s captain is not expected to join the squad next week when they assemble for a pre-tournament training camp in Brighton.

The 99-Test capped player’s absence will give England coach Eddie Jones a conundrum over both the flyhalf position and the team’s leadership.

Leicester Tigers playmaker George Ford has been in excellent form in the Premiership, but was left out of the 36-man squad. Marcus Smith, George Furbank and Orlando Bailey are the three remaining flyhalves in the squad.Mark Atkinson, Henry Slade, Joe Marchant and Luke Northmore are the centres.

Jones did not name an official vice-captain when the squad was announced, but Courtney Lawes did lead England against the Springboks in November.

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