England flanker Tom Rees looks set to miss most of this year's Six Nations, just as he did last year, after scans on Tuesday confirmed he had suffered a knee injury last weekend.

The 24-year-old - who has started five of England's last six Test matches - suffered a moderate tear of the medial knee ligament during Wasps' 24-18 Premiership win over Harlequins on Sunday.

Rees is not expected to play until March at the earliest - which means him missing the first three Six Nations matches against Italy, 2008 Six Nations grand slam champions Wales and Ireland - and will undergo extensive rehabilitation at Wasps.

There is a possibility he could make it back for England's clash with France on March 15 at Twickenham, while their last Six Nations game is the Calcutta match against Scotland on March 21.

Rees sat out the majority of last year's Six Nations after suffering a similar knee injury in the opening match against Wales.

Rees' pain may mean joy for 23-year-old London Irish flanker Steffon Armitage, brother of England fullback Delon.

Leicester's experienced flanker Lewis Moody is also ready to regain his place in the England squad having missed the summer tour and autumn internationals after suffering a ruptured Achilles and undergoing a hip operation.

England manager Martin Johnson - who has endured a rocky start to his tenure since replacing Brian Ashton - is due to name his 32-man squad for the Six Nations on January 14.

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