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London - Prop David Wilson will miss England's Six Nations opener against Wales in Cardiff on Friday due to a neck injury, forwards coach Graham Rowntree revealed on Monday.
Dan Cole will step in after recovering from a foot injury, but there is a chance that Wilson will be fit to play against Italy in England's second game of the championship.
"David Wilson won't be ready for Friday," Rowntree said. "He's not recovered from the nerve impingement.
"We're hoping David will be in the mix for next week, but he's not right at the moment, unfortunately."
Cole has not played since spraining his foot in Leicester's 32-20 win at Sale on December 27, but he is now in line to make his first England appearance since February.
"Dan is available and has progressed well," Rowntree said. "He trained with us all last week. We increased his rehabilitation and he's trained fully for the last four days.
"Dan is a class, proven operator. He's not been out for six months and has not been sat twiddling his thumbs for the last six weeks. We've trained pretty fast and he's slotted in nicely."
England head coach Stuart Lancaster will announce his team for the game on Wednesday.
