England are braced to lose Chris Ashton for their autumn opener against Fiji.
The jet-heeled wing faces a disciplinary tonight (Wednesday) after racking up two yellow cards and a level one citing for a tackle on Vasily Artemyev on the weekend.
And Stuart Lancaster fears the Saracens star could be slapped with a one-week ban for his poor disciplinary record, ruling him out of the first clash of the QBE Internationals.
“Chris Ashton is to appear at an RFU Disciplinary Hearing today for receiving three yellow cards for foul play this season,” read an RFU statement.
“He received a post-match Level One citing – treated in the regulations as a yellow card for the totting up system – for a dangerous tackle on Vasily Artemyev in last Saturday's Aviva Premiership match at Northampton Saints.
“Earlier this season he was shown yellow cards for dangerous charging in the matches against London Irish (September 1) and Exeter Chiefs (September 23).
“The panel of His Honour Judge Jeff Blackett, Jeremy Summers and Peter Budge will consider the matter at the London Bloomsbury Holiday Inn (7pm)."
The loss of Ashton, who has touched down 15 times for England, would be yet another blow for Lancaster.
England are already without Ben Foden, following ankle surgery, while doubts remain over fellow Northampton Saints duo Dylan Hartley and Courtney Lawes among others.
