Slater's Season is Over
Ed Slater will spend the rest of the season recovering from his knee injury
©PA
Leicester and England lock Ed Slater has revealed that he will miss the entire domestic season and possibly the World Cup after suffering a ‘horrific’ knee injury.
The 26-year-old tore his anterior cruciate ligament while captaining England’s midweek side to a 38-7 victory over the Crusaders during the summer tour of New Zealand.
After undergoing surgery in the last few days, Leicester Director of Rugby Richard Cockerill has announced that he is expected to miss the entire 2014/15 campaign.
It could just be as little as 6 weeks before England launch their bid for World Cup glory on home soil, when the giant lock is deemed fit. The men in white face Fiji at Twickenham on September 18.
"It's horrific for Ed in many ways," said Cockerill.
"He has been in the England squad and just taken on the captaincy here at the club.
"He will come back better and fresher than ever, whenever that may be.
"It's a critical year for us and for him with the World Cup coming up, and the likelihood is that he is not going to play a game between now and pre-season next year.
"He will probably spend the next 12 weeks off his feet and it will be a long way back.”
Slater would have been primed to battle Joe Lanchbury, Courtney Lawes, Geoff Parling and Dave Attwood for a second-row berth in head coach Stuart Lancaster's full England side this term.
The former Nottingham lock's injury absence will be offset at Leicester by the summer capture of World Cup-winning former All Black Brad Thorn.
The evergreen 39-year-old was brought in to ease the loss of Steve Mafi, who has joined Australian Super Rugby franchise Western Force.
