Harlequins wing David Strettle has been ruled out for up to seven weeks after sustaining another foot injury.
The 25-year-old England back picked up the problem in the Premiership victory over Worcester last week.
And a specialist has confirmed that it is a recurrence of the metatarsal injury Strettle suffered in the Six Nations game against Wales in February.
"The advice is to rest, with no surgical intervention being required," said a Quins statement.
"However, because it is a repeat of the previous injury, there will be further investigative work done to try to help prevent the likelihood of any further recurrence of this particular injury.
"David will be expected to be out of action for the next five to seven weeks."
Strettle went on England's tour to New Zealand in the summer but missed out on the Elite Player Squad when it was named in July, making the second-string Saxons party instead.
He could have been called up to the senior squad for the autumn internationals as a replacement for an injured player but that now seems highly unlikely.
Strettle, who will miss the Heineken Cup matches against the Scarlets and Ulster, was ruled out of England's World Cup campaign last year after suffering an initial foot injury while on pre-tournament training duty in Bath.
And he also missed the Six Nations after picking up the injury in the first 15 minutes of the opening match against Wales.
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~18~RS~)