 Dawson has barely played since the World Cup |
Matt Dawson is confident of playing a part in England's Six Nations campaign despite injuring his shoulder in his comeback match on Monday night. The scrum-half, in only his second start since the World Cup final, jarred his left shoulder in a second team match for Northampton.
"I'm an eternal optimist. I'm hopeful it won't be too long," Dawson said.
He is expected to miss both of Saints' final two Heineken Cup pool matches against Agen and Llanelli.
Dawson, a candidate to replace Martin Johnson as England captain, had previously been sidelined by a persistent calf injury.
He is now likely to have only one match - Northampton's Zurich Premiership fixture against Rotherham on 7 February - to prove his fitness before England kick off their campaign in Rome the following weekend.
Dawson is one of nine members of the World Cup-winning squad on the injury list. Mike Tindall, Julian White and Lewis Moody have all been ruled out of at least the first half of the Six Nations.
Iain Balshaw, Mike Catt, Jonny Wilkinson, Richard Hill and Martin Corry are also struggling but hope to recover fitness in the next few weeks.
Sale's Charlie Hodgson - the likely back-up to Wilkinson at fly-half - will be absent for the next fortnight at least after suffering knee cartilage damage. 
MMIX
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