Joe Launchbury faces a race to be fit for England’s Six Nations campaign after Dai Young revealed he may need surgery.

The Wasps lock hasn’t played since late October with a neck injury that kept him out of the autumn internationals and is now threatening his participation in the Six Nations which begins on February 6.

Speaking after Wasps’ final match at Adams Park against Castres Olympique on Sunday, Director of Rugby Young revealed Launchbury’s rehabilitation has not been going to plan.

“His rehab isn’t going quite as quickly as we would like,” he said. “He’s got an appointment with the consultant next week to see where we go from here.

“Fingers crossed. As I said, it’s not going as quickly as we’d have liked but hopefully it’s not too serious and that rehab can start picking up.”

Young added: “He sees the specialist next week and we’ll know a bit more then.”

England coach Stuart Lancaster is sure to be keeping a close eye on the 23-year-olds progress and Young is hoping that Launchbury comes back fully fit to benefit both club and country – no matter how long it takes.

“We’ve got a real good rapport with England and we work together on everything, the most important thing is getting him back being 100 per cent.

“Whether that’s in two or three week’s time or two or three month’s time, the most important thing is to get Joe Launchbury back 100 per cent fit.”