Wales suffer Tom Shanklin Six Nations injury blow

Tom Shanklin has won 70 Wales caps since his debut in Japan in 2001

Tom Shanklin has added to Wales coach Warren Gatland's injury's woes as the experienced centre will miss the Six Nations to undergo knee surgery.

Saracens star Gavin Henson (calf) and Andrew Bishop (ankle) of the Ospreys are to miss Wales' opening Championship games against England and Scotland.

Now the Cardiff Blues centre is out after tweaking his troublesome knee in their Magners League win over Aironi.

Jamie Roberts, James Hook and Jonathan Davies are now Wales' only fit centres.

"Unfortunately Tom has had a scan and needs another operation on that troublesome knee which will keep him out for three months," said Blues rugby director David Young said.

"We sent him for a scan and the medics thought he needed an operation to sort the problem out. The recuperation period is 12 weeks minimum."

The 2005 British and Irish Lion, who has won 70 caps and played throughout the recent autumn series, is to undergo knee surgery in a bid to be fit for Wales' Rugby World Cup campaign in the autumn.

The 31-year-old was replaced by Dafydd Hewitt after 65 minutes of their Magners League victory over Italian side Aironi on 7 January - and scans revealed a fresh problem.

"Most people saw against Aironi that he wasn't right out there and that's why he had to come off," said Young.

"The knee started to swell up straight after the game.

"He should be back by the end of March, beginning of April, and has to get fit, so he may feature in some of our games at the end of the season.

"Obviously, I am sure he wants to come back as soon as possible to stake a claim for the World Cup with Wales."