Courtney Lawes expected to lead England as injury threatens to rule Owen Farrell out of Six Nations campaign

Courtney Lawes is poised to lead England into the Six Nations after captain Owen Farrell suffered a fresh injury setback which threatens to rule him out of the tournament.

Farrell, who required ankle surgery after damaging it in England’s win over Australia two months ago, will see a specialist early next week to determine the severity of what Telegraph Sport understands to be a new lower-leg injury sustained in training with Saracens earlier this week.

Sources have indicated that another lay-off of around eight weeks is possible, throwing Farrell’s entire Six Nations into doubt. The optimistic prognosis is that the 30-year-old, who has appeared in each of England’s 30 Six Nations fixtures of the Eddie Jones era, could return, but not until the final two matches against Ireland and France in March.

However, he has not played at all since being helped from the field in the second half of that meeting with the Wallabies on November 13. Sunday’s European Challenge Cup meeting with London Irish had been earmarked for his return and some much-needed game-time, but Saracens revealed his latest fitness set-back on Friday morning, half an hour before they named their team to take on the Exiles.

England will issue a captaincy update on Monday as they review the make-up of their 36-man squad following the weekend’s European Champions and Challenge Cup fixtures. George Ford, the Leicester Tigers fly-half who has been overlooked for international honours since the last Six Nations, must now be in a strong position to receive a call-up on the back of his tidy club form.

Having skippered wins over Tonga and South Africa in Farrell’s absence last autumn, Lawes would appear to be the overwhelming favourite to assume the responsibilities of Farrell. Tom Curry was an official vice-captain for that campaign, as was Ellis Genge.

Luke Cowan-Dickie had been prepared for such a role before injury struck, while another Exeter Chief, Henry Slade, was a vice-captain for the triumph over the Springboks.

Maro Itoje could now come into the reckoning as well. As recently as last month, having previously suggested that the Saracens lock was too “inward looking” to captain England, Jones took a U-turn.

"I've never seen a guy mature as much as he has in the last six months so it's been a really good period for him," said Jones of Itoje. “I’m going to contradict myself - and contradictions are a big part of life - but I've got no doubt in the future he will captain England. Whether that's in my time or someone else's time.”

Marcus Smith, George Furbank and the uncapped Orlando Bailey, who faces Jonny Sexton as Bath host Leinster on Saturday lunchtime in the European Champions Cup, are the three remaining fly-half options in England’s Six Nations squad as things stand.

Slade, Mark Atkinson, Joe Marchant and Luke Northmore, also yet to represent England, are the centres. Smith, Slade and Marchant occupied the midfield for most of November’s 27-26 victory over South Africa following Manu Tuilagi’s early injury.