Dan Cole doubtful for England's Six Nations opener with foot injury

The Leicester Tigers prop is expected to be ruled out until the end of January as a result of the problem.

And with Stuart Lancaster's men set to face Wales on February 6, it leaves the 27-year-old with little time to prove his fitness ahead of the encounter at the Millennium Stadium.

Cole, who has been unable to add to his 45 England caps since last year's Six Nations due to neck surgery, is likely to sit out the match alongside club-mate Manu Tuilagi - the centre having been sidelined since October with a groin injury.

"Manu and Coley are probably still end of the month at this point," Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill said.

"They may well be fit for the Wales game but whether they will be match fit I don't know. We will see."

Cockerill also stated his belief that Leicester hooker Tom Youngs should be handed a starting jersey against Wales.

"If there is a better hooker in England after the weekend I don't know who he is," he added. "Tommy has been outstanding for us. Tom is a different league."