Maro Itoje in race to be fit for Six Nations

Maro Itoje is in serious doubt for England’s first game of the Six Nations after Saracens confirmed he suffered a fractured jaw in a game at the weekend.

He was seen leaving the field clutching his mouth and left cheek, following a 48th-minute collision with Mike Brown during Saracens’ 20-19 deafeat at Harlequins. He was immediately taken from the grounds to the hospital for scans on the damage. Speaking after the match, Saracens’ director of rugby, Mark McCall said, “Maro has gone to hospital with a facial injury so we’ll get an update in the next 24 hours. They’re going to find out if it is structural.”

It is now understood that he has undergone an operation on his jaw after scans on Monday revealed he had suffered the fracture. He is set to see a second specialist on Thursday to determine the length of his rehabilitation.

England are due to travel to Portugal for a warm-weather training camp in mid-January and if Itoje is unable to take part by then it would leave him struggling to be considered for selection for the Italy game.

??Post-Match | Mark McCall also provide an update on @maroitoje, who was forced off the field in the 48th minute

McCall: “Maro has gone to hospital with a facial injury so we’ll get an update in the next 24 hours.” pic.twitter.com/3FTZfdROXR

— Saracens Rugby Club (@Saracens) December 3, 2017

England begin their Six Nations campaign against Italy in Rome on February 4, which gives the lock roughly two months to recover from an injury that can take up to ten weeks, leaving Eddie Jones in an anxious wait over the lock.