Newly-appointed England manager Martin Johnson faces an anxious wait on the fitness of four key players ahead of Tuesday's squad announcement for the two-Test tour of New Zealand.

After a thrilling finale to the Guinness Premiership regular season, Johnson (pictured) awaits medical reports on centre and potential captain Mike Tindall, Bath front-row duo Matt Stevens and Lee Mears, and Wasps wing Paul Sackey.

All four were forced off the field in their club games on Saturday, but try-machine Sackey is the biggest worry as he appears to have damaged a medial knee ligament.

"It looks as if I've damaged the medial knee ligament, but I'm a quick healer," said an ever-optimistic Sackey.

Tindall twisted an ankle, but was reportedly up and about on Saturday evening, while Stevens and Mears suffered knee and shoulder injuries respectively.

Reports coming out of Bath have been encouraging and the West Country giants expect their in-form front-rowers to be available for selection.

This will be welcome news for Johnson as Stevens has been the in-form tighthead in Europe all season, while hooker Mears offers a mobility missing from England's front-row in recent seasons.

Sackey is almost certain to miss Wasps' play-off showdown with Bath on Sunday, but might be given several weeks to prove his fitness as the first Test in Auckland is not until June 14.

Johnson may even decide to take a look at someone else on the wing in the first game and save Sackey for the second Test in Christchurch a week later.

Johnson must also take into account James Simpson-Daniel's niggling shoulder problem.

The Gloucester flyer will require corrective surgery at some stage and Johnson and his club must decide the best time for him to go under the surgeon's knife.

Johnson, who misses the trip to New Zealand to support his wife through her second pregnancy, will name a squad of 32, with Tindall favourite to take over as skipper from the injured Phil Vickery.

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport