Hobbling Lewsey still upbeat
England full-back Josh Lewsey is still hopeful of being fit to face New Zealand.
England full-back Josh Lewsey is still hopeful of being fit to face New Zealand next Sunday despite hobbling off with a knee injury during Wasps' Heineken Cup defeat at Perpignan.
The World Cup-winner left Stade Aime Giral with his right knee in a brace but has not ruled out making a return to international action at Twickenham.
"I will have a scan when and I will just have to wait and see what it shows," said Lewsey, who suffered a suspected knee ligament strain early in the second half of Wasps' 19-12 defeat.
"I have got to stay positive. I might be training by Tuesday or Wednesday, you just don't know. The pain wouldn't go away when I was top-end running, but I am being as positive as possible."
It was a bad weekend all round for England head coach Andy Robinson, with Olly Morgan also suffering an injury that could see him miss the clash with the All Blacks.
Gloucester full-back Morgan was hit by a recurrence of the shoulder trouble that sidelined him earlier this season during the 32-26 defeat by Agen, while Newcastle centre Mathew Tait missed Falcons' European Challenge Cup defeat in Brive after suffering a minor thigh muscle tear.
In addition, Perpignan prop Perry Freshwater sat out the Heineken Cup win against Wasps while he continues his recovery from a leg injury.
The New Zealand-born forward was hurt in Perpignan's Heineken Cup victory over Treviso last weekend amid initial fears that he had broken his leg.
"It was bad bruising in the bone which turned into a shin-splint. It is being treated as a soft tissue injury," Freshwater said.
"I really wanted to play against Wasps, but it was just a couple of days too early. I am up and running, I just can't push fully in the scrum at the moment."
After another disappointing weekend for England's clubs in Europe's premier competition, amongst the only good news for Robinson was a two-try display by 20-year-old centre hopeful Anthony Allen in Goucester's defeat.
