England add Thompson to long list of concerns

ENGLAND hooker Steve Thompson is a doubt for the November internationals — adding fuel to concerns raised by Twickenham medical chiefs today over the “unprecedented” number of injuries.

Thompson could be out for between four and six weeks with the calf injury he suffered during Northampton’s Guinness Premiership defeat by Gloucester on Saturday.

Even if the more optimistic of those assessments proves correct, 28-year-old Lions front row will be short of match fitness for the opening Test against the All Blacks on November 5.