Joe Marler to miss start of season and a doubt for autumn matches after breaking foot
Harlequins' Marler broke his foot during the first Test against New Zealand
©Robbie Stephenson/JMP for Harlequins
Joe Marler will miss the start of the Gallagher Premiership season and is in a race to be fit for England’s autumn internationals after breaking his foot during the summer tour of New Zealand.
Marler's club side, Harlequins, held an open training session on Wednesday but the veteran prop was on the sidelines in a protective boot.
Quins boss Danny Wilson revealed Marler had broken his foot meaning the 34-year-old is likely to be out until at least the middle of October.
With that in mind, Marler may not feature for Harlequins - who begin the new Premiership campaign away at Sale Sharks on September 22nd - before England head coach Steve Borthwick names his squad for their autumn fixtures against New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Japan.
After stepping into Marler's shoes in New Zealand, clubmate Fin Baxter could keep hold of the No 1 jersey in the autumn. At the same time, Ellis Genge will be available for international selection again after missing the All Blacks series through injury
“It’s going to be a 12-14 week injury, it’s not a 12-weeker where he can come back in nine,” Wilson told the press on Wednesday. “It’s an injury that will take that amount of time. That at the moment hasn’t changed but I need to get to the bottom of that from today’s assessment.”
At the end of last month, Quins brought in Wales and Lions prop Wyn Jones as a result of Marler’s injury and Wilson added: “We looked at our squad and knew that we were going into three pre-season matches and the first few league matches without Joe, therefore our cupboard was a little bit bare in that position.”
