Iain Balshaw will miss England's Six Nations campaign after suffering another serious injury six weeks after he returned from an eight-month lay-off.
The Bath full back had an operation on his right shoulder last April and made his comeback against Bridgend in the European Challenge Cup last month. He had attracted the attention of the England selectors, but he was back in hospital yesterday after damaging his left shoulder during the Challenge Cup victory over Montauban last Saturday.
The 23-year-old Lion had a scan and although the results will not be revealed until today, Bath know he will be out of action for between six and 12 weeks.
"The X-ray showed a grade three separation of the AC joint and that is about as severe as that kind of injury can be," said the Bath coach Michael Foley. "The scan will tell us more but the worst case scenario is that he will be out for three months."