England will have to cope with the try-scoring prowess of Anthony Watson for at least three rounds of the RBS Six Nations, following confirmation that he has suffered a hamstring strain.

The Bath wing was injured during the final day of warm-weather training with the national squad in Portugal on Friday and was sent for a scan yesterday. A statement from the RFU confirmed that Watson could be ruled out for nearly a month.

While the damage is described as being a 'slight muscular strain', the official prognosis is a three-to-four-week period of rehabilitation. The 22-year-old will remain with England to be supervised by the Red Rose medical staff as he undertakes his recovery.

England and Bath wing Anthony Watson will need to embark on a period of rehabilitation

England will have to cope with the try-scoring prowess of Watson for at least three rounds

Eddie Jones responded to the setback by saying: 'It's disappointing news for Anthony and for England, but we know he'll rehab diligently to get himself right to go as soon as he can. We're confident he'll be mix later in the championship.'

England face France at home on Saturday in their championship opener, followed by a showdown with Wales in Cardiff a week later.

The defending champions' next fixture is against Italy at Twickenham on February 26 – and even that may come too soon for Watson. Realistically, he will have to target the Calcutta Cup match against Scotland on March 11.

Jack Nowell is one of the options Eddie Jones could turn to in Watson's absence next month

Jones had to make do without Watson in the autumn and is pleased with the depth of his squad

However, Jones and his assistants will be confident that they have more than adequate cover out wide, with this latest injury clearing the way for Jonny May and Jack Nowell to join forces as the wing pair in the starting XV.

Watson also missed the recent autumn campaign at Twickenham, but the return to fitness of May, following a long-term injury, alleviated the problem.

England also have Marland Yarde in their senior squad, as well as the option of recalling Bath's Semesa Rokoduguni, who was unlucky to be omitted in light of his sensational club form.