England's Mike Tindall faces a fight to be fit for his country's autumn internationals after the Gloucester star limped out of Friday's 28-23 Premiership loss at Sale.

Tindall's exit after just 16 minutes with an apparent hamstring injury is a big blow to England coach Martin Johnson.

Tindall, a Johnson teammate in England's 2003 World Cup-winning side, had only just returned from three matches on the sidelines with hamstring trouble.

Chasing his own kick the 31-year-old pulled up and went off grimacing in pain with his head in his hands.

He is now a major doubt for England's opening Test against Australia at Twickenham next Saturday having hoped to use Friday's encounter as a way of proving his match fitness.

Gloucester bagged three tries to Sale's one but they suffered from a first-half dismissal for Tindall's replacement, Charlie Sharples, while flanker Andy Hazell and prop Paul Doran-Jones picked up injuries on a luckless evening.

Greg Somerville went over for the visitors with two minutes remaining for a bonus point but still could not stave off a third successive defeat.

Sale director of rugby Kingsley Jones got the public backing of owner Brian Kennedy earlier this week, and his players responded, going in 16-8 to the good at the break.

Five-eighth Charlie Hodgson starred with seven penalties and a conversion, getting the ball rolling with a third-minute penalty prior to opposite number Nicky Robinson drawing Gloucester level with a drop-goal.

Sale centre Andy Tuilagi departed with injury in the 12th minute and Tindall then followed.

Hodgson kicked Sale back in front and Lee Thomas then went over for their only try in the 28th minute after good work by scrum-half Dwayne Peel.

Tom Voyce went over for the visitors before Sharples was sent off for reckless challenge on Marika Vakacegu.

A quickfire Hodgson pair of penalties had Sale 22-11 ahead by the hour mark but Gloucester manfully fought back as Will James crashed over on 66 minutes.

Robinson's conversion brought his side back to within three points of Sale before Hodgson landed two more penalties home and dry before Greg Somerville's late consolation.

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