Not good.

Maro Itoje will miss Saracens’ European double-header with Clermont, after the defending champions confirmed that the England lock has suffered a fractured jaw.

Scans have confirmed that Itoje fractured his jaw in Sunday’s Round 10 Aviva Premiership clash against Harlequins. The 23-year old England forward left the field in the 48th minute of Saracens’ 20-19 defeat at the Twickenham Stoop and was taken to hospital where scans confirmed the fracture.

Itoje will now see a second specialist later this week to confirm his return to play schedule, a statement confirmed.

The upper end of the recovery timeframe for a broken jaw can be as much as 10 weeks, with Anthony Watson sidelined for two months with a similar injury last year.

With less than nine weeks to go until England open their Six Nations campaign against Italy, Itoje is now a serious doubt.