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Gallery: The troubled English stars and their injuries

England’s injury problems for their big Six Nations opener with Wales have reached crisis proportions with fly-half Owen Farrell joining the clutch of stars ruled out of the Millennium Stadium showdown.

Farrell was officially told he won’t be fit for the game because of a knee injury which will keep him absent for the duration of the Championship, bringing England’s outs and doubts to a worrying 11 as they prepare for the Wales clash.

By stark contrast, Warren Gatland looks like having a fully-fit squad to choose from when he names his team next Wednesday, with tighthead prop Samson Lee his only doubt. However, Wales expect the Scarlets man to be available for selection.

Farrell’s absence heightens the likelihood of Danny Cipriani being involved in a Six Nations match for the first time since 2008, as likely back-up to Bath’s George Ford at 10.

He joins locks Courtney Lawes (ankle) and Joe Launchbury (neck), No.8 Ben Morgan (leg) and Manu Tuilagi (groin) as a definite absentee from the mouthwatering Cardiff clash.

Northampton’s Ben Foden, who would have been back-up to Mike Brown at full-back, is also out of the game with knee trouble.

On top of that, England boss Stuart Lancaster has major doubts surrounding centres Brad Barritt (knee) and Kyle Eastmond (shoulder), lock Geoff Parling (knee) and back-row regular Tom Wood (ankle).

Luther Burrell is also recovering from concussion sustained during Northampton’s crushing defeat to Jamie Roberts’ Racing Metro at the weekend. He takes the England injury list to 11.

The crisis has hit England particularly at second-row and centre. The only fully-fit locks are Bath’s Dave Atwood and Saracens youngster George Kruis, while as things stand Jonathan Joseph and Billy Twelvetrees are the available centres.

England supremo Lancaster said: “We will continue to assess and treat the other players’ injuries and will provide an update at the Six Nations launch on Wednesday.”

Of the loss of Farrell, he stated: “It’s a real shame for Owen that he sustained this injury and we wish him the best for his recovery.

“We are fortunate to have three other No.10s in the squad in what is a very competitive position and we will look forward to seeing how they go over the Six Nations.”

The news on Farrell is a huge blow to Lancaster, who faces having to reconstruct his backline because of the other injury worries to Barritt, Eastmond and Burrell.

Barritt continues to receive treatment for his knee injury, but the Saracens centre is likely to be out for around a month.

As things stand ahead of next Friday’s tournament opener, Gloucester centre Twelvetrees is in line to take over the No.12 jersey in Cardiff.

Farrell, who has been England’s first choice fly-half of the last two years, is set to be replaced by Bath pivot Ford., with Sale’s Cipriani and reliable Northampton back Stephen Myler vying for a place on the bench.

Forwards Wood and Parling also look certain to miss the Wales game, with veteran Tom Croft and Christian Day called into the senior squad as cover.