ALEX Sanderson will watch England's clash against Australia tomorrow from the comfort of an armchair at his parents' Padiham home.

But the 'gutted' 20-year-old will think only of what might have been.

The back row forward, tipped as a future England captain, should be with the national squad today preparing for the Test against the Aussies.

But he is laid up at mum and dad's after surgery on a career-threatening injury last weekend.

"I have had a disc removed from my neck and it has been replaced with a bit of hip bone," he said, understandably dejected.

"Now I am back at home with my parents looking after me. I was gutted at first, but now I've had some time to get used to it I am okay. "I have had a problem with my neck for a couple of years. I used to get stingers, where your arms go numb, which is quite common but I got it checked out and the specialist told me I could lose the use of my right arm if I didn't have the operation.

"I decided to have it done straight away."

It couldn't have come at a worse time for the former Kirkham Grammar School pupil: just a week before he was due to meet up with the England squad and mid-way through the Premiership season with Sale.

The op has put him out for six months.

"I'm looking at next pre-season really. Hopefully I'll be fit for England's summer tour to America. I have spoken to Clive Woodward and he says he still wants me to be involved."

England coach Woodward reckons his side have never had a better opportunity to beat the Aussies t han at Twickenham tomorrow.

The Wallabies, World Cup holders and Tri-Nations title winners, are playing their 10th Test in 22 weeks, concluding a punishing international campaign.

England, in contrast, last took the field almost five months ago, and according to manager Woodward are a "pretty well-rested team".