Cole joins England crocks

Leicester Tigers prop Dan Cole has joined England's ever-growing list of injured players ahead of the Six Nations tournament.

Tigers boss Richard Cockerill told the English media that the veteran front row forward is in a race against time to be available for England's Six Nations opener against Wales on 6 February.

Cole, capped 45 times for England and a handful of caps for the British and Irish Lions, missed the Tigers' 17-8 victory over Bath last Sunday with a foot injury.

Cole, who has not featured for England since last season's Six Nations as a result of neck surgery, joins Tigers teammate Manu Tuilagi on the sidelines – the latter with a groin problem.

"Manu and Coley are probably out until the end of the month," Cockerill told the local media.

"They may well be fit for [the start of the tournament], but whether they'll be match fit I don't know. We will see."

Tuilagi, 23, was injured in Leicester's European Champions Cup win over Ulster in October, forcing him out of the year-end internationals.

England and Wasps lock Joe Launchbury underwent surgery on a neck injury in December, which will see him miss the 2015 Six Nations.

The good news is that England captain Chris Robshaw is set to return to action on Saturday, when his club Harlequins take on Leicester in the Premiership.

The flank has been sidelined since stretching shoulder ligaments during Quins' European Champions Cup clash against Leinster on December 7, but he would have faced three months out had he decided to have an operation.

He should now be back to full fitness for England's February 6 showdown with Wales. Robshaw said he opted not to undergo shoulder surgery in order to be fit for next month's Six Nations opener against Wales in Cardiff.