The 30-year-old flanker missed the entire autumn international series following an earlier ankle problem but had been recalled to England's Elite Playing Squad just four months out from this summer's Lions tour to South Africa.

Moody played in both the second and third Tests when the Lions toured New Zealand four years ago, scoring his only try in Lions colours during that final Test defeat in Auckland.

With his latest injury anticipated to keep him sidelined until late March, Moody will now have little time to convince Lions coach Ian McGeechan that he is worthy of a place in the squad to face the world champions in their own backyard.

With fellow openside Tom Rees also sidelined for the first three Six Nations fixtures, England manager Martin Johnson could call up Bath flanker Michael Lipman or London Irish's Steffon Armitage ahead of the clash with Italy on February 7.