Vickery joins England casualties
[bbc]
Vickery has made 73 international appearances for England
Phil Vickery has become England's latest injury casualty after he was ruled out for at least three months because of a neck injury.
The Wasps prop will miss England's three autumn internationals in November after he was told he required surgery to rectify the injury.
Vickery sustained the problem in Wasps' 18-13 win over Racing Metro last week.
England manager Martin Johnson faces a front-row crisis with Andrew Sheridan and Lee Mears ruled out with injuries.
Loose-head prop Sheridan faces a race to be fit for England's 2010 Six nations campaign following a shoulder injury in Sale's Heineken Cup victory over Cardiff Blues on Friday.
And Bath hooker Mears faces up to eight weeks on the sidelines with a knee injury, which means Johnson will be without his first-choice front row.
Former England captain Vickery suffered neck pain during Wasps' Amlin Challenge Cup victory on 11 October.
The 33-year-old was examined by a consultant neurosurgeon, who advised surgery was required.
A Wasps statement read: "A collective decision by Phil, the consultant, Wasps' medical team and England has been made this week to progress with surgery to his neck.
"This will entail a rehab period in excess of three months."
Johnson faces a mounting injury deluge ahead of the three internationals against Australia, Argentina and New Zealand.
London Irish full-back Delon Armitage and Brive inside centre Riki Flutey will miss all three matches while Leicester fly-halves Toby Flood (ruptured Achilles) and Sam Vesty (hamstring) are only expected to return to action for the Tigers in November.
Vickery's Wasps team-mates Danny Cipriani (tibia hairline fracture) and Tom Rees (shoulder) are also unavailable because of injuries, while Saxons and Harlequins centre Jordan Turner-Hall, who was a possible contender to replace Flutey, is also out.
Wasps second row Simon Shaw is currently recuperating from a metatarsal injury and is a doubt for the first match against Australia on 7 November.
[bbc]
Vickery has made 73 international appearances for England
Phil Vickery has become England's latest injury casualty after he was ruled out for at least three months because of a neck injury.
The Wasps prop will miss England's three autumn internationals in November after he was told he required surgery to rectify the injury.
Vickery sustained the problem in Wasps' 18-13 win over Racing Metro last week.
England manager Martin Johnson faces a front-row crisis with Andrew Sheridan and Lee Mears ruled out with injuries.
Loose-head prop Sheridan faces a race to be fit for England's 2010 Six nations campaign following a shoulder injury in Sale's Heineken Cup victory over Cardiff Blues on Friday.
And Bath hooker Mears faces up to eight weeks on the sidelines with a knee injury, which means Johnson will be without his first-choice front row.
Former England captain Vickery suffered neck pain during Wasps' Amlin Challenge Cup victory on 11 October.
The 33-year-old was examined by a consultant neurosurgeon, who advised surgery was required.
A Wasps statement read: "A collective decision by Phil, the consultant, Wasps' medical team and England has been made this week to progress with surgery to his neck.
"This will entail a rehab period in excess of three months."
Johnson faces a mounting injury deluge ahead of the three internationals against Australia, Argentina and New Zealand.
London Irish full-back Delon Armitage and Brive inside centre Riki Flutey will miss all three matches while Leicester fly-halves Toby Flood (ruptured Achilles) and Sam Vesty (hamstring) are only expected to return to action for the Tigers in November.
Vickery's Wasps team-mates Danny Cipriani (tibia hairline fracture) and Tom Rees (shoulder) are also unavailable because of injuries, while Saxons and Harlequins centre Jordan Turner-Hall, who was a possible contender to replace Flutey, is also out.
Wasps second row Simon Shaw is currently recuperating from a metatarsal injury and is a doubt for the first match against Australia on 7 November.
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