Martin Johnson left to sweat on Toby Flood's fitness

07/09/2010

Martin Johnson is likely to be keeping a close eye on the fitness of Toby Flood after the Leicester Tigers player hobbled off the pitch at Northampton on Sunday (September 5th).

As England's current first-choice fly-half, Flood will be expected to play a key role when his team face the likes of New Zealand and Australia in front of fans with rugby corporate hospitality tickets this autumn.

However, the 25-year-old left Franklin's Gardens on crutches after Leicester's 27-19 defeat and Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill confirmed Flood had injured his knee ligaments.

He told the Leicester Mercury on Monday: "We are assessing that now and he will be seen by the specialists over the next 48 hours.

"It doesn't look ideal but we will have to see. Let's not get carried away."

Last year, Flood was forced to sit out several months of the season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.

People with rugby corporate hospitality tickets will see England take on the All Blacks in the first of their autumn internationals on Saturday November 6th.

Posted by Sam Smith