Jonathan Joseph ruled out for three months by World Cup chest injury

England centre Jonathan Joseph has been ruled out for approximately three months with the chest injury sustained during the World Cup.

Joseph's club Bath have confirmed that the 24-year-old underwent surgery earlier this week to repair the damage sustained to his pectoral muscle and he is now a doubt for the start of the RBS 6 Nations.

The injury ruled Joseph out of the 28-25 defeat by Wales four weeks ago but he returned against Australia a week later before appearing as a replacement against Uruguay.

Joseph faced a race against time to recover for the decisive match against Australia and was passed fit only to see England crash out of their own World Cup with a 33-13 loss.

Head coach Stuart Lancaster retained him in the matchday 23 for the rout of minnows Uruguay, but he sat out Bath's victory over Exeter last weekend and will now miss the start of their European Cup campaign.

"Bath can confirm that centre Jonathan Joseph underwent surgery earlier this week for a pectoral injury sustained during the World Cup," a Bath statement read.

"Joseph, who made his 16th international appearance for England during the competition, will be out of action for approximately three months."

England open their 2016 Six Nations against Scotland at Murrayfield on February 6 with Joseph's involvement now in doubt.