Hodgson injury has Woodward worried

England coach Clive Woodward will be considering his fly-half options over the next 48 hours as he waits for news on the severity of Charlie Hodgson’s knee injury.

The Sale playmaker limped off shortly before half-time in the Sharks’ 23-16 Heineken Cup defeat by Leinster after suffering damage to the same knee which kept him out for eight months last year.

He will be examined by a specialist this evening but will not know the results for another two days, and along with Woodward he will be hoping that it is not a recurrence of the problem which forced him to miss the World Cup.

Hodgson is Jonny Wilkinson’s deputy and would have a crucial role to play in England’s Six Nations Grand Slam defence which begins against Italy on February 15, providing vital cover at centre and fly-half.

If the 23-year-old’s worst fears are confirmed then Woodward could be forced to start the RBS Six Nations Championship without his two most coveted number 10s, as Wilkinson is still struggling with his shoulder problem.

Newcastle have yet to schedule a return date for their goal-kicking ace and his comeback could be hampered by the Falcons’ lack of fixtures over the next two weeks.

The club were knocked out of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup by Montferrand at the weekend, leaving the Zurich Premiership clash with Gloucester on February 7 as the only opportunity for Wilkinson to prove his fitness before the Six Nations starts.

If Woodward is denied both Hodgson and Wilkinson, he will probably look to Alex King and Paul Grayson to fill the shoes of his midfield generals.

Wasps back King has been in good form for the Premiership champions and would relish the opportunity to link up with England once again after also being ruled out of Woodward’s World Cup plans through injury.

Grayson was involved Down Under – he was a peripheral figure with Wilkinson the undisputed number one but Woodward knows the Northampton favourite is a solid performer with an assured boot.

Mike Catt’s ongoing hamstring problems rule him out of the reckoning – no date has been set for his return – but his Bath team-mate Olly Barkley could be a surprise choice following some strong performances for the Zurich Premiership leaders.

England’s midfield could certainly look very different to the one which featured at the World Cup – Mike Tindall is out with ankle damage and will miss the whole tournament, leaving Will Greenwood as possibly the only survivor.