Joe Moody is assisted by Dr Tony Page after suffering a bad cut to his eye during training.

A gruesome eyelid injury has destroyed Joe Moody's hopes of playing England, putting an end to a season loaded with pain and frustration.

All Blacks loosehead prop Moody was expected to start the test against England in London on Sunday morning until a team-mate accidentally split his eyelid during a lineout drill at training at the squad's base in south-west London on Tuesday.

Phil Walter Joe Moody's season is over after suffering an eye injury.

The mishap resulted in Moody being taken to a plastic surgeon, having three layers of stitches inserted into the wound and being told there was no chance of him playing for six weeks.

Just considering Moody's medical file for 2018 makes for a hair raising experience. His season was delayed because of major shoulder surgery, he mangled a finger in a club game, injured a knee playing for the Crusaders and then broke a thumb representing the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship.

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Reports of eyelid injuries are relatively rare, although as All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said, if anyone was going to find a way to suffer such misfortune it was likely to be the Canterbury front rower.

GETTY IMAGES All Blacks prop Joe Moody has been forced to deal with injuries to his shoulder, finger, knee, thumb and an eyelid this year.

"But Joe Moody has found a way to get himself injured this year in unusual fashion," Hansen said. "It was a lineout lift and he copped someone's hand. Anyone else and it would have probably missed."

Moody, 30, will remain with the squad for the immediate future and his recovery will be carefully managed.

"And as our doctor described it, your eyelid is your window washer. So if you have got half of it missing you can't wipe your eye and it could affect your eyesight long term," Hansen said.

"So we need to make sure that he is okay."

Hansen is likely to consider starting Karl Tu'inukuafe in the absence of Moody. Angus Ta'avao has been called in as a replacement to the squad and will join it for the three games against England, Ireland and Italy.

The All Blacks team to play England will be released 5pm, Thursday.