Young star to miss Premiership final

James Simpson-Daniel looks certain to miss England's summer tour to Argentina after being ruled out of Gloucester's Zurich Championship final clash with Bristol at Twickenham on Saturday.

The 20-year-old flyer, who has shot to prominence in the final months of the campaign, sat out his club's semi-final victory over Sale last weekend after suffering an ankle injury on England duty against the Barbarians the previous week.

Scans have revealed there is no break but it appears Simpson-Daniel has severe bruising to his bone and could be out of action for up to six weeks.

"James certainly won't make it this Saturday," said Kingsholm coach Nigel Melville."We are resting him and giving him treatment but at this stage it looks unlikely he will make the tour. If the injury is what I have been told he will be out for about six weeks."

The news is not only a major blow to Gloucester's chances of winning this weekend's West Country showdown, it is also the latest in a series of set-backs for England boss Clive Woodward.

With Dan Luger out with cruciate ligament damage, Ben Cohen struggling with a foot problem, Dan Scarbrough missing the tour to have a knee operation and Austin Healey rested, following his Lions exploits 12 months ago, Simpson-Daniel would almost certainly have picked up his first England cap against the Pumas on June 22.Woodward will now have to decide whether to bring a replacement into his squad, although the options are somewhat thin on the ground.

Leicester's former Huddersfield rugby league man Steve Booth is one possibility, although Woodward also has the option of switching Booth's Tigers' teammate Tim Stimpson from his favoured fullback role.Meanwhile, Melville reports the rest of his squad is fit and well from Saturday's encounter, with England Under-21 flanker James Forrester set to return after missing out last weekend.ends