Maro Itoje will not return to action until January, with Saracens confirming the England lock is still recovering from a knee injury picked up during the November internationals.<\/p>\n
The 31-year-old has been sidelined since England\u2019s win over Argentina at the end of November and, while he was initially expected to feature this month, Saracens have now opted for a more cautious approach, standing him down until after the new year.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaro is still carrying an injury from the autumn so we don\u2019t expect to see him for a while. The time scale is a little bit vague at the moment,\u201d said Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s got a chance of being back for the Leicester Tigers game which is the first week of January maybe. Somewhere around then.\u201d<\/p>\n
Itoje has not required surgery, but the extended absence comes after a heavy workload at international level, having captained the British & Irish Lions on their tour to Australia earlier this year.<\/p>\n
That schedule also saw him begin the Premiership campaign late, missing Saracens\u2019 opening three league fixtures. His next appearance is now most likely to come against Leicester Tigers on 4 January, or in the Investec Champions Cup clash with Toulouse the following week.<\/p>\n
EDITORS PICKS:<\/p>\n
2027 Rugby World Cup draw:<\/p>\n
Pool A<\/p>\n
New Zealand\u00a0\u2013 Perennial contenders with flair, power and unmatched rugby IQ.
Australia\u00a0\u2013 Unpredictable but dangerous, capable of brilliance on their day.
Chile\u00a0\u2013 Fast-improving newcomers bringing passion and fearless physicality.
Hong Kong China\u00a0\u2013 Skillful, energetic, and eager to prove themselves on the global stage.<\/p>\n
Pool B<\/p>\n
South Africa\u00a0\u2013 Brutal, relentless, and brutally efficient\u2014never count them out.
Italy\u00a0\u2013 Developing rapidly, mixing strong set-piece work with expanding ambition.
Georgia\u00a0\u2013 Scrum specialists with raw forward strength and growing all-round polish.
Romania\u00a0\u2013 Proud and powerful, known for toughness and unwavering fight.<\/p>\n
Pool C<\/p>\n
Argentina\u00a0\u2013 Dynamic, crafty, and fiercely competitive with a never-say-die spirit.
Fiji\u00a0\u2013 Magical offloads, searing pace, and unique unpredictability.
Spain\u00a0\u2013 Determined climbers building consistency and confidence every year.
Canada\u00a0\u2013 Physical and committed, working to regain their traditional sharpness.<\/p>\n
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