England lock Richard Blaze's foot injury will continue to be monitored by his club Leicester ahead of Tuesday's announcement of the team to face Australia.

Blaze pulled out of the Tigers' Guinness Premiership clash with Northampton on Saturday and, while the RFU stress he "continues to be part of the England squad", they have agreed that he will remain with the club.

Blaze's injury is the latest in what England manager Martin Johnson has described as "as bad a run of injuries as there has been".

Johnson has been deprived of around half of his first-choice line-up ahead of the first of the autumn internationals.

London Irish second-rower Nick Kennedy will join the squad as cover for Blaze.