Watch England v South Africa live on Sky Sports Action on November 3
Saturday 27 October 2018 14:41, UK
Courtney Lawes has left England's training camp in Portugal to undergo treatment on a back injury.
The Northampton forward is returning to England but is expected back in Vilamoura next week and remains in contention for their autumn series, which begins against South Africa on November 3.
England forwards coach Steve Borthwick said: "Courtney Lawes will return to England today for specialist treatment on a pre-existing back injury.
"He is expected to return to Portugal early next week. He has taken part in modified training this week."
The issue first surfaced on the day of Northampton's defeat by Leicester on October 6, a back spasm incurred after sleeping in a hotel bed that was ill-suited to his 6'7" frame the previous night, forcing him to withdraw during the warm-up to the game.
Lawes missed England's series defeat in South Africa in June after undergoing knee surgery but has made six appearances for Northampton this season, including last weekend's Challenge Cup win at the Dragons.
Last week he signed a new two-year contract that keeps him at Franklin's Gardens until 2020.
The 29-year-old has won 65 caps for his country, the last coming against France in this year's Six Nations when he suffered the knee injury that ruled him out for the rest of the season.
England are already without a host of key forwards for next month's Quilter Internationals, including Billy and Mako Vunipola, Joe Launchbury and Nathan Hughes.
They face the Springboks, New Zealand, Japan and Australia on successive Saturdays at Twickenham, with every game live on Sky Sports Action.
