Andrew Sheridan will this week become the third prop from the 2009 British & Irish Lions tour party to undergo shoulder surgery.
The England loose head dislocated his left shoulder in last weekend’s Heineken Cup clash between Sale Sharks and Cardiff Blues and is set to be sidelined for the next four months.
Ironically, last Friday night’s clash at Edgeley Park saw the return to action of Blues and Lions prop Gethin Jenkins after his shoulder operation in the wake of the tour to South Africa.
While he sailed through his return, putting him in line for an international clash with the All Blacks for Wales in November, Sheridan will not only miss England’s Autumn Tests, but could also be doubtful for the 2010 RBS 6 Nations championship.
Another of the Lions’ front row contingent in South Africa, Adam Jones, was forced to undergo surgery on his shoulder after it became dislocated in the second Test in Pretoria. That was in June and he isn’t due back until the New Year.
Sheridan will undergo an operation at the BMI Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle on Wednesday.
Sale director of rugby Kingsley Jones said, "He’s a great presence around our team and he will be missed. It’s bad news for Andrew, England and Sale Sharks and we just have to come to terms with it.”
